Is Nashville Emerging as a Hub for Female Travel Entrepreneurs as Omega World Travel Supports the Enterprising Women Awards Conference?

Published on March 30, 2025

Omega World Travel, one of the most prominent woman-owned travel management companies in the United States, is reportedly reaffirming its long-standing commitment to advancing women’s leadership not just during Women’s History Month, but year-round. Headquartered in Fairfax, Virginia, the company continues to champion women in business and travel by organizing impactful events and forging key partnerships across the U.S.

Industry insiders noted that one such recent initiative was the Entrepreneurs of Purpose retreat dinner, hosted on March 8 at the historic Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. The event was held in collaboration with the Women’s Business Collaborative (WBC), a national alliance known for promoting gender parity across industries. The celebration also coincided with Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s city-wide initiatives recognizing the invaluable contributions of women leaders to both community and commerce.

Gloria Bohan: Pioneering Gender Equality in Travel

At the center of these transformative efforts stands Omega’s Founder and CEO, Gloria Bohan, whose influential career continues to inspire a new generation of women in tourism and travel leadership. Recognized across the industry for her innovative spirit and unwavering support for women professionals, Bohan has been hailed as a trailblazer since the inception of the Omega family of brands.

Having built Omega into a market leader, Bohan’s influence stretches well beyond boardrooms and booking platforms. She launched the Women’s Leadership Forum (WLF) to provide professional mentoring, strategic networking, and growth opportunities for women within the travel and hospitality space. The company is also proudly certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), further affirming its operational ethos of inclusivity.

Recognition Across the Travel and Tourism Landscape

In recent years, Bohan’s leadership has been nationally celebrated. In 2023, she became the first recipient of the prestigious Icon Award from the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA), marking her as a leading advocate for gender equality in tourism. One year later, in 2024, she was honored as the Champion of Women in Travel by the Northstar Travvy Awards, cementing her position as one of the most influential figures in the global travel space.

These accolades not only highlight individual excellence but serve as a call to action for other travel companies and tourism boards to deepen their commitment to diverse leadership. Her story is now seen as a guiding model for travel businesses aiming to blend purpose with performance.

Shaping the Future of Women in Tourism

Omega’s influence isn’t limited to its leadership team or its internal workforce, which consists of nearly 75% women. The company’s dedication to nurturing future industry leaders is most evident through its educational and empowerment partnerships. Among its most notable collaborations is its work with Junior Achievement — an initiative that supports youth entrepreneurship and career planning in various sectors, including tourism.

In addition, from March 27–29, Omega is actively supporting the Enterprising Women of the Year Awards Celebration & Conference in Nashville. The event gathers 81 scholarship recipients from across the United States, offering mentorship opportunities and direct access to business leaders in sectors including travel management, destination marketing, and hospitality innovation.

Such efforts underscore Omega’s broader mission — not only to support women in leadership positions today, but to ensure that the pipeline of future female travel industry professionals is strong, diverse, and global in its reach.

A National Footprint for Women-Led Travel Leadership

While Omega is based in Virginia, its impact is felt coast to coast. The recent events in Washington, D.C. and Nashville reflect the company’s national scope and strategic commitment to elevating tourism-focused gender equality. The Watergate Hotel event brought together women from across the country, while the Nashville conference continues to build leadership skills through mentorship and exposure.

For travel brands, tourism boards, and hospitality organizations, Omega’s model offers valuable insight into how women-focused leadership strategies can be meaningfully embedded into corporate structure and public-facing initiatives.

Empowering Women Through Business and Travel Technology

Beyond traditional travel management, Omega owns and operates Cruise.com, one of the largest online cruise booking platforms. The platform’s user base includes thousands of female travelers and travel planners globally. Through Cruise.com, Omega is able to influence travel decision-making while offering industry representation for women in cruise sales and operations.

Additionally, the company owns Travtech, a travel technology development firm. This arm of the business creates backend travel management solutions and booking software — sectors where women are still vastly underrepresented. Omega’s ownership of such tech-forward platforms highlights its role in shaping not only who travels, but how travel is booked, managed, and scaled digitally.

Key Highlights for the Global Travel Industry

• Omega World Travel is the largest woman-owned travel management company in the U.S.
• Gloria Bohan is the first recipient of ASTA’s Icon Award and the Northstar Travvy Awards’ Champion of Women in Travel
• Omega’s workforce is comprised of nearly 75% women, supported by mentoring through the Women’s Leadership Forum
• Omega partners with Junior Achievement and the Enterprising Women Foundation to support next-gen leaders
• The company’s national influence spans Fairfax, Washington D.C., and Nashville, fostering leadership through events and forums

What This Means for Travel and Tourism

Omega World Travel’s advocacy for women’s leadership has implications far beyond a single company. In an industry historically led by men — especially at the executive level — Omega represents a shift toward inclusion, innovation, and intentional mentorship. It is playing a pivotal role in rewriting what leadership looks like in tourism, hospitality, and travel tech.

As female travelers continue to become the majority in vacation planning, booking decisions, and adventure tourism markets, companies like Omega are ensuring the industry leadership reflects that demographic reality.