John Fitzpatrick, President & CEO of Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, North America, Named Irish American of the Year

NEW YORK, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- John Fitzpatrick, President and CEO of Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, North America, has been named Irish American of the Year by Irish America Magazine, the bestselling Irish magazine in the United States, for his great success as a hotelier and entrepreneur as well as his support of Irish American organizations and his philanthropic work.

Mr. Fitzpatrick, the son of renowned hotelier, Paddy Fitzpatrick, has carried on his family's legendary hospitality and business savvy with the successful establishment of the Fitzpatrick Hotel Group, North America - the first Irish-owned hotel company to operate in this country. The hotels continue to grow and attract business and leisure guests from all over the world thanks to warm Irish hospitality, meticulous attention to detail and personalized service.

In addition to promoting Ireland-U.S. tourism through his hotels, Mr. Fitzpatrick also serves on the board of directors of the American Ireland Fund, which supports and promotes peace and reconciliation, community development, education and arts and culture in Ireland and the Ireland-U.S Council, which helps build business connections between the two countries. Additionally, he is the current chairman of the Hotel Association of NYC.

Mr. Fitzpatrick is passionately involved in charitable activities. He established the Eithne & Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Foundation, in honor of his late parents, and over the past 15 years the fund has raised more than $1.3 million in support of various non-profit organizations in Ireland. Each year, for instance, he hosts the Eithne & Paddy Fitzpatrick Memorial Golf Tournament, which draws participants from across the country and benefits organizations including: Barretstown, a camp for children with serious and life-threatening illnesses; the Corrymeela Community, which promotes reconciliation and peace-building in Northern Ireland and around the world; PeacePlayers International, which uses basketball to unite and educate children and their communities; and Integrated Education Fund, a financial foundation that develops integrated educational programs in Northern Ireland.

The award for Irish American of the Year will be presented to Mr. Fitzpatrick in a ceremony on March 15th at the American Irish Historical Society.

About Fitzpatrick Hotel Group

The Fitzpatrick Hotel Group operates two hotels in New York City. The Fitzpatrick Manhattan, located at 687 Lexington Avenue and offering 91 rooms and suites, blends intimacy and luxury with a refreshingly classic atmosphere in the heart of midtown. The Fitzpatrick Grand Central, located just 12 blocks away at 141 East 44th Street, with its 155 rooms and suites, provides warmth, hospitality and an elegant atmosphere perfect for a business trip or a family vacation in New York City.

SOURCE Fitzpatrick Hotel Group