Top9.com - News - April 21, 2000

FAIRFAX, VA

Gloria Bohan, CEO of Omega World Travel, has received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Business Women’s Network (BWN) for her success in growing a business that is known worldwide.

Bohan received the award in Washington, D.C. on April 7 during Women Lawmakers’ Networking Day, sponsored by BWN and the National Foundation for Women Legislators. The annual event brings together women state legislators, members of the United States Congress, the Administration, media, and business.

Started by Bohan in 1972 with just one employee, Omega World Travel is now the largest woman-owned business in Washington, D.C. and the largest woman-owned travel company in the U.S. with over 1000 employees, over 200 company-owned offices nationwide and abroad, and sales in excess of $600 million annually.

Omega is a diversified company with a mixture of business travel both for the corporate and government sectors. They are also key players in the vacation and group markets. The company has achieved growth through creative use of technology and a personal touch. Understanding customer needs is the cornerstone of the company’s philosophy. Over the past two years, Omega’s dominance on the Internet has enabled the company to broaden its customer base and expand its products to other businesses and customers. Their
websites, Cruise.com, Airdeals.com, Tourdeals.com, and TOP9.com have received great kudos. Omega has emerged as a true on-line travel agency.

Gloria says that working with people and building a successful workforce has been the real satisfaction for her. "You have to love what you’re doing and reach out to others to achieve success and happiness."

Twenty entrepreneurs received the BWN Entrepreneur of the Year Award in different categories. The recognition is awarded according to the following criteria:

The National Foundation for Women Legislators is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that supports women who distinguish themselves though significant contributions in the corporate and legislative arenas.

BWN is an extraordinary information umbrella with more than 5,000 women business organizations and websites across America and the globe. BWN has links with groups and individuals in all 50 states and more than 100 nations. BWN is unique in offering a clearinghouse of resources to entrepreneurs, working women, companies and government. The organization produces a series of publications on the Internet including the BWN Network Directory profiling 5,000 organizations representing 40 million women, and The BWN WOW! Fact Book, Women’s Calendar of 2000 EVENTS.