FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OFFICE DEPOT HONORS FAIRFAX BUSINESSWOMAN WITH “BUSINESSWOMAN OF THE YEAR” AWARD
Photo courtesy of Robert Sadler Clark Photography
FAIRFAX, VA. - March 4, 2004 – Gloria Bohan, the President and CEO of Omega World Travel in Fairfax, was awarded the prestigious Office Depot “Business Woman of the Year” award.

The award was presented by Edie Fraser, President of the Business Women’s Network (BWN) and its sister organization, Diversity Best Practices, and with Jocelyn Carter-Miller, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice President for Office Depot, last week at the company’s fourth annual Success Strategies for Businesswomen Conference held in Boca Raton, FL.

Bohan was nominated by BWN for her many outstanding career and philanthropic accomplishments and demonstration of leadership.

Only seven businesswomen were selected nationwide to receive the honor.

“It is an honor to be named BWN Awardee of the Year by Office Depot,” said Bohan. “I believe that recognizing entrepreneurs and champions of women is extremely important. BWN and Office Depot do precisely that. We never can stop despite a 9/11 attack or any threats to our business. We must keep going as builders. I am lucky because I love what I do and I share this award with my employees who have remained unrelenting in their determination to succeed; who work as a team and help each other. We believe in sharing and consistently giving back. That is what Edie Fraser and BWN are about. Special Thanks to BWN and to Office Depot,” added Bohan.

The Business Women’s Network’s (BWN) and Diversity Best Practices serves as an umbrella organization to unite, network and promote 1,200 women’s business and professional organizations, representing nearly 8 million women. BWN acts as an information source for corporations, government and publications. (www.bwni.com)

“There are few individuals who have done more to fulfill their dreams,” says Fraser. “Gloria Bohan in building Omega Travel has managed to grow her travel, cruise and hospitality company into a giant, being the largest women-owned travel agency. She is also owner of Cruise.com. It is natural that Gloria receives the award from BWN and its sister organization Diversity Best Practices. Gloria has been a loyal supporter of our programs and of our annual Summit and Gala and always ever supportive of women. We are proud that Gloria Bohan received Office Depot's BWN Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2004 and proud of BWN support of million of women."

Bohan founded Omega World Travel in 1972 and has transformed her one-person office into a travel agency with 200 company-owned offices, 1,000 employees worldwide and air sales in excess of $759 million. Named as one of the Top 500 women in the United States by Working Woman magazine, and one of the 25 Most Influential Leaders in the Travel Industry by Tour and Travel News, Bohan is also active in various civic organizations including the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Women’s Center Suited for Change.

According to Office Depot’s Carter-Miller, Bohan is a role model for other women. She was selected based on her exemplary leadership, entrepreneurial and philanthropic spirit and support for women in business.

Omega World Travel, headquartered in Fairfax, VA, is the seventh largest travel management company in the U.S. and the largest woman-owned business in the Washington, DC area. Celebrating its 32nd year in business, Omega serves corporate, government and leisure clients throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.