The selection of Gloria Bohan, founder and leader of Omega World Travel, as a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2025 Mid-Atlantic Award by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) signals important trends for vendors serving the human resources industry. This recognition, part of the award program's 40th anniversary, spotlights entrepreneurial excellence in leadership, innovation, and community impact. For HR vendors, Bohan's journey from a single-person operation to a global full-service travel management organization illustrates the scalable business models and service diversification that corporate clients increasingly demand.
Omega World Travel provides comprehensive travel management services, including business travel arrangements, meeting and conference management, group air arrangements, VIP services, and strategic consulting. The company's ownership of Cruise.com, a major online cruise booking platform, and Travtech, a travel technology development firm, demonstrates a vertical integration strategy that enhances service delivery and technological capability. This business structure offers a case study for HR vendors in building resilient, multi-faceted service offerings that address complex corporate needs.
Bohan's nomination reflects broader shifts in corporate leadership and procurement. As a woman-owned business, Omega World Travel represents progress in diversity within the travel industry, a factor increasingly prioritized in corporate vendor selection and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria. HR vendors monitoring supplier diversity programs and inclusive procurement trends can view this recognition as validation of market movements toward supporting diverse-owned enterprises. Bohan emphasized continuous growth, innovation, and collaborative success in her statement, aligning with the entrepreneurial values that drive business transformation.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program, detailed at https://www.ey.com/en_us/entrepreneur-of-the-year, honors leaders across various entrepreneurial paths, including bootstrapped founders, transformational CEOs, and multigenerational family business leaders. For the HR vendor community, the program highlights the types of leadership and business models that attract recognition and investment, providing insights into client expectations and partnership opportunities. Regional award winners will be announced on June 18 in Washington, DC, with winners gaining lifetime membership in a global alumni community, potentially expanding their networks and influence.
This development matters to HR vendors because it underscores the importance of integrated, technology-enabled service platforms in competitive markets. Omega World Travel's evolution into a global organization serving corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions mirrors the expansion strategies many HR vendors pursue. The company's focus on strategic consulting and owned technology assets, like Travtech, suggests a roadmap for vendors aiming to deepen client relationships and move beyond transactional services. As corporate travel and mobility management intersect with talent management and duty of care responsibilities, vendors with expertise in these areas may find growing demand for solutions that ensure employee safety, compliance, and cost efficiency.
Ultimately, Bohan's recognition as a finalist highlights how entrepreneurial vision, combined with strategic diversification and a commitment to purpose-driven leadership, can build significant enterprises in business services. For HR vendors, this news reinforces the value of innovation, scalability, and diversity in capturing market share and meeting the evolving needs of HR departments worldwide.
