Northern Ireland hotelier Billy Hastings has been given a knighthood for his services to charity and the tourism industry.

The 80-year-old is among 72 people from the province to feature on this year’s Queen’s birthday honours list and he is the only one to be knighted.

Sir William — as he will now be called — started his empire, the Hastings Hotels Group, in 1967 with the purchase of a small hotel in Ballymena.

Since then he has expanded his portfolio to include six hotels in Northern Ireland and a 50% stake in The Merrion in Dublin.

His hotel chain is the largest group operating in the province, employing 1,000 full time and 1,000 part time staff and his company, which is the largest privately held chain in Ireland, has an annual turnover in excess of £25m.

Speaking after he received confirmation of his knighthood the father-of-four, who is the president or patron of a number of charities including Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke, NI Polio Fellowship, The Salvation Army and Crimestoppers Northern Ireland, said he was overwhelmed by the honour.

“I am truly overwhelmed at the enormous honour bestowed on me by the Queen,” he said.

“My wife of 50 years who has always supported me will also receive the title she deserves in becoming Lady Hastings. A very suitable title for Joy in my opinion.

“Finally, I am grateful to my family, friends, employees and business colleagues. I know that they will share my pleasure at this very special time.”

Besides his role in the business world over the past six decades he has also served as chairman of Help the Aged NI, The Prince’s Trust NI and the St Patrick Visitor Centre.

Other people to make Her Majesty’s list include newly appointed Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie, who received an OBE, former Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice Christopher Chivers, who received a CBE, Dennis McAuley, a forensic scientist who led the forensic investigation into the Omagh bomb, received an OBE and John Connor from Strabane was bestowed with an MBE for his services to health care.

The Co Tyrone gardener has been the groundskeeper at Altnagelvin Area Hospital for the past 15 years and was responsible for the management of the facility’s sensory garden which was designed to aid independent living.

The oldest recipient is believed to be Mrs Esther Coghlan from Dundonald, who received an MBE for her voluntary work with charity Save the Children over the past four decades.

The youngest is believed to be Lisburn woman Diana Farrelly for her role in promoting cultural diversity within Armagh and at the Southern Regional College.

The Lord Lt of Co Down Sir William Joseph Hall was made a Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCRVO) by the Queen and Eric Rainey, who is the director of the Duke of Edinburgh programme in Northern Ireland, was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).

These two honours are separate from the general list as they are chosen by the Queen herself.