OMEGA, Advanstar Announce Loyalty Management & Marketing Strategy Workshop at ICCM East 2004 in Orlando, February 25-27.

Business Editors

ICCM East 2004

CHELMSFORD, Mass. & WELLESLEY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 22, 2003

New Loyalty Management & Marketing Strategy Workshop Will

Address All Areas for Developing a Customer Loyalty

Management & Marketing Strategy

Recognizing that Customer Management is the single most significant contributor to increased sales and profits, OMEGA Management Group Corp. (OMEGA) and Advanstar Communications, Inc. announced today they have partnered to sponsor OMEGA's 2nd Annual Loyalty Management & Marketing Workshop at Advanstar's ICCM East Conference & Exposition 2004, targeted at C-level and senior marketing, sales and service executives and their direct reports. Loyalty Management & Marketing Strategy Workshop 2004 will focus senior management on the importance and blueprint to building a customer loyalty management strategy.

Loyalty Management & Marketing Strategy Workshop is scheduled for Feb. 25-27 at the four-star Gaylord Palms Resort, Orlando, Fla. The two events will leverage the complementary strengths of its sponsors. OMEGA, whose principals launched the first off-the-shelf CRM software product (fieldwatch-1980), specializes in increasing revenue and profits by increasing customer satisfaction, retention and loyalty. Advanstar is a leading worldwide producer of business publications and conferences.

ICCM East 2004 will include conference sessions for call center and CRM senior executives and operational staff as well as exhibits from the industry's top technology and solution vendors. A highlight of the Loyalty Management & Marketing Strategy Workshop will be OMEGA's fourth annual NorthFace ScoreBoard(SM) Awards, which recognize companies -- as voted by their own customers -- that have exceeded customer expectations and have established world-class customer service organizations. OMEGA also will establish its inaugural NorthFace ScoreBoard(SM) User's Group, February 23-24, preceding the ICCM event. The OMEGA NorthFace ScoreBoard(SM) Awards are presented annually by OMEGA to organizations who not only offer exemplary service to their customers but also who center their existence on a deep commitment to exceed all customer expectations.

"The Loyalty Management & Marketing Strategy Workshop is the first event focused on developing a customer loyalty management strategy that focuses on utilizing CRM technology and employee participation to drive customer retention and loyalty," said John Alexander Maraganis, president and CEO of OMEGA.

"Customer satisfaction, retention and loyalty are recognized as the single most powerful bottom line contributors in all executive board rooms," Maraganis said. "Today's business challenge is to create a workplace where employees are motivated and skilled, customers are valued and relationships are maximized. All customer satisfaction measurements must evaluate a company's CRM strategy's value to the bottom line. There was no single event focused on this need, so we've partnered with Advanstar, with their vast experience and resources in publishing and events, to create one."

"The Loyalty Management & Marketing Strategy Workshop at ICCM East 2004 is a natural next step for Advanstar," said Kerry C. Gumas, VP and general manager of Advanstar's Technology Group. "We have produced conferences and expositions for customer contact and support professionals since 1990, and also serve that market with Customer Interface magazine. With our unique partner, OMEGA, we're taking this event to the blockbuster level. ICCM East will include tracks for marketing, sales and service professionals.

"Exhibitors will like the fact that ICCM East will attract senior-level decision makers as well as influencers," Gumas said. "Conference attendees will gain insight into the obvious and subtle aspects of maximizing customer satisfaction, retention and loyalty.

For more information on The Loyalty Management & Marketing Strategy Workshop and ICCM East 2004, visit www.iccm.com or call Paul Panagopoulos at Advanstar, 781-239-7510.

About OMEGA

Since 1984, OMEGA has been recognized as the expert in implementing customer satisfaction, retention and loyalty programs that result in increased product and service revenues. Formed by the developers of the first off-the-shelf CRM software product in 1980 (fieldwatch), OMEGA develops and implements customer and employee loyalty management programs which leverage client's investment in their CRM technologies. OMEGA's loyalty management service includes employee and customer surveys. The analysis of the data provides companies with the information necessary to increase employee/customer satisfaction, retention and loyalty, resulting in increased revenues and profits. For more information on the Loyalty Management & Marketing Strategy Workshop, visit www.omegascoreboard.com or call Mary Butler at OMEGA, 978-256-3331.

About Advanstar

Advanstar Communications Inc. (www.advanstar.com) is a worldwide business information company serving specialized markets with high quality information resources and integrated marketing solutions. Advanstar has 115 business magazines and directories, 78 tradeshows and conferences, numerous Web sites, and a wide range of print and electronic direct marketing, database and reference products and services. In addition to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries, Advanstar serves targeted market sectors in the art, automotive, beauty, e-learning, call center, digital media, entertainment/marketing, fashion & apparel, manufacturing and processing, powersports, science, telecommunications, travel/hospitality, healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. The Company now has more than 1,400 employees and currently operates from multiple offices in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

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