Leading New York hotelier John Fitzpatrick, president and CEO of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, North America, and the chairman of the Hotel Association of New York City last week received an honorary doctorate for services to business and commerce from Queen's University in Belfast. As well as being honored by the university, Fitzpatrick and his employees are currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of Fitzpatrick Hotels in Manhattan. The company is also completing a three-year renovation of its two Midtown hotels that has cost in excess of $10 million.
Norma Sinte, director of development and alumni relations at Queen's, delivered the citation for Fitzpatrick at the ceremony.
"Fitzpatrick Hotels became the first Irish owned hotel company to operate in the United States after John Fitzpatrick moved from Ireland to New York in the late 1980s to expand the family business," said Sinte.
"As well as being an astute businessman, John is committed to charity work in the U.S. and here in Ireland. Through a memorial fund set up in honor of his late parents, he has been instrumental in raising over €1.3 million for various charities, including the Corrymeela Community and Barretstown, an organization dedicated to bringing joy and comfort to children with cancer and other illnesses in Ireland."
