Congratulations to @TitanicBelfast CEO Tim Husbands celebrates MBE achievement

Titanic Belfast CEO Tim Husbands celebrates MBE achievement

Queen’s honour bestowed for Services to Economic Development and Tourism

TITANIC Belfast Chief Executive Tim Husbands said he is “deeply humbled and honored” to have been awarded an MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) by Her Majesty The Queen.

The Nottingham-born recipient, who describes himself as an ‘honoree Belfast man’, accepted the MBE at Buckingham Palace recently, after he was named in the 2014 New Year’s Honour List for Services to Economic Development and Tourism.

The award was presented almost two years after Mr Husbands first met Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, when they marked the official opening of Titanic Belfast, the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience which stands where RMS Titanic was built more than 100 years ago.

“The day I met Her Majesty The Queen and Prince Philip at Titanic Belfast was one of the greatest days of my life. I thought a day like that could not be topped. To meet her a second time, at Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE, it leaves me deeply humbled and honored.”

Mr Husbands has played a significant role in the transformation of Belfast as a confident, vibrant destination of choice for leisure and business tourists.

A former Managing Director of Belfast’s Waterfront Hall and the Ulster Hall, he became Head of City Events and Venues in 2009 and during this tenure secured the memorable 2009 Tall Ships Festival and the MTV Music Awards in 2011.

Before his career took him across the Irish Sea, Mr Husbands served as Managing Director of Riviera Centre in Torquay, a major UK Conference Centre and leisure facility.

As Titanic Belfast celebrates its second birthday, exceeding all visitor experience numbers; and conference and banqueting targets, the Nottingham Forest supporter is confident his adopted city is on course to reap more rewards.

He added: “Belfast is looking forward, so too is Northern Ireland. Our door is open for tourists and business, and our conference and hospitality sectors have never been more confident. I am proud to have been associated with Belfast throughout challenging times and now in these rewarding times.”