Colliers Adds New Boston Leasing Executive for Tenants
Local business owners gain new advisory support to navigate site selection and lease negotiations in a hybrid-work environment.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Remote Work
Colliers has appointed industry veteran Rachel Bliss as vice president of its downtown Boston urban leasing team. Bliss will focus on tenant representation and site selection strategy for local firms navigating shifting office space requirements.
Why it matters
As remote work policies continue to reshape office utilization, firms are increasingly relying on specialized leasing counsel to optimize their physical footprints. Expert guidance helps operators evaluate whether their current square footage remains aligned with long-term workforce distribution and hybrid attendance models.
This hire adds one senior vice president to the downtown Boston urban leasing unit, expanding the firm's capacity for tenant advisory work. The appointment follows previous tenures at three major commercial real estate services firms, though the specific size of the managed portfolio remains unknown.
The players
Rachel Bliss
The new vice president of Colliers' downtown Boston urban leasing team who previously held roles at Hughes Marino, JLL, and Cushman & Wakefield.
Colliers
A global commercial real estate services and investment management firm that advises business tenants on leasing and site strategy.
The details
In her new role, Bliss will advise commercial tenants on leasing strategy, including site selection and contract negotiations. She draws on prior experience at Hughes Marino, JLL, and Cushman & Wakefield, where she built expertise in managing complex lease structures. These operational decisions regarding space density and location are critical for Boston-based business owners evaluating their overhead costs against actual hybrid work participation.
Timeline
October 27, 2026: Official publication of the hiring announcement.
Market Landscape
This move reflects a broader trend of real estate service firms prioritizing tenant advisory talent in response to the post-pandemic shift toward hybrid work occupancy models. The strategy follows a long-standing pattern where agencies recruit top-tier consultants to navigate the complexities of shrinking or reconfiguring office footprints.
Business owners in the Boston area should review their current commercial leases against recent occupancy data to identify potential savings. When contract renewals approach, ensure your leasing strategy explicitly accounts for space utilization metrics rather than static headcounts.
The takeaway
Commercial leasing strategy now requires a deeper audit of operational utilization than the pre-hybrid market demanded. Operators should track their average daily office attendance for at least two quarters before initiating lease renewal discussions with their brokers.
Further reading
For more insights into optimizing physical workspaces, visit our Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Nerej.
