FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Office of the President
Omega World Travel
703-359-8866

OMEGA CEO NAMED ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR

FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA -- April 24, 2000 -- Gloria Bohan, President and CEO of Omega World Travel, headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, has received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Business Women’s Network (BWN) and the National Foundation for Women Legislators for her success in growing a business that is known worldwide.

Bohan received the award in Washington, D.C. on April 7, 2000 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.

Omega World Travel is the largest woman-owned business in Washington, D.C. according to the Washington Business Journal (June 16-22, 2000) and one of the 15th largest travel agencies in the United States according to the travel trade publication Travel Weekly (June 26, 2000). Started by Gloria Bohan in 1972 with just one employee, Omega now has approximately 1,000 employees and 200 company-owned offices nationwide and abroad in Okinawa, Japan, Guam, and the U.K. Sales revenues for the company in 1999 were more than $600 million.

Omega is a diversified company that serves corporate and government travelers. Omega is also a key player in the vacation and group markets and sells cruises and tours worldwide.

Omega has achieved growth through the creative use of technology and the personal touch. Understanding customer needs is the cornerstone of Omega’s growth. In 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.

Omega’s Internet sites include Cruise.com, a separate company founded by Omega that has become the Internet’s largest cruise seller; TourDeals.com, which offers discounts on tours worldwide; Air Deals.com, which offers discount airfares on major carriers; and Top9.com, a Web ranking and search directory. The Omega company Web site address is omegatravel.com.

Twenty entrepreneurs received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in different categories. Entrepreneur of the Year Awards are selected according to the following criteria:
Successful Woman Entrepreneur with Growth Business: A business that has grown significantly, is substantial and has been recognized by community leaders as having made a difference in job growth and economic development.
Sector Leadership: A woman leader in her own right who has contributed to the success of other organizations, or who has been recognized as having contributed to society and philanthropy.
Mentor: A woman recognized for her ability and contributions to the coaching and mentoring of other women.
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."

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

BWN, headquartered in Washington, D.C., is an information umbrella with more than 5,000 women business organizations and Web sites across America and the globe. BWN has links with groups and individuals in all 50 states and more than 100 nations. BWN offers a clearinghouse of resources to entrepreneurs, working women, companies, and government.

For more information, please Christine O’Dwyer, Omega World Travel, at
(703) 359-0200, ext. 323 or (703) 359-8866. The Omega Web site address is www.owt.net. The Business Women’s Network Web site address is www.bwni.org, and the National Foundation for Women Legislators Web site address is www.womenlegislators.org.