The man behind Bermuda’s successful America’s Cup bid has been recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Grant Gibbons was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire.

Dr Gibbons, an island businessman and former One Bermuda Alliance and United Bermuda Party minister, said that he was pleased to be recognised.

He added: “It’s been a real pleasure to work on behalf of Bermuda.

“It’s a very special place.”

Dr Gibbons, who stood down from politics in April, led the Bermuda Bid Team that won the right to host the America’s Cup in Bermuda in 2017.

The award was given for services to Bermuda.

He said: “I think the thing that is top of mind for most people is the America’s Cup.”

Dr Gibbons, the chairman of insurance firm Colonial Group International, thanked his family for their support during his years of public service.

He was one of six Bermudians named as award recipients. Meredith Ebbin was awarded the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour for services to journalism.

Ms Ebbin, who wrote about politics, education and social issues for The Royal Gazette, Mid-Ocean News and Bermuda Sun, said the award came as a surprise.

She added: “I can’t remember too many journalists actually being recipients of this.

“It’s an honour to be recognised.”

Ms Ebbin was editor of The Bermudian magazine from 1999 to 2003 and executive officer of the Bermuda Media Council.

She said journalism was a “bit of an unappreciated profession” and that the industry was going through a “period of transition”.

Ms Ebbin added that it was important that the work of journalists was acknowledged.

She said: “It can be very, very difficult for Bermudians, because everybody knows everybody.”

But she added: “There is a need for journalism — and the need is greater than ever.”

Mark Norman and Michael Winfield were appointed Members of the Order of the British Empire.

Mr Norman is a former member of the Bermuda Police Service, where he worked in the Police Road Safety Department.

He was a major force behind the introduction of road safety scheme Project Ride to the island.

Mr Norman became the co-ordinator of Outward Bound Bermuda in 1989 and later became executive director when the youth organisation became a registered charity.

Mr Winfield, who was the chief executive of the America’s Cup Bermuda Development Authority and also a member of the bid team, has worked in a number of positions in the island’s hospitality industry.

He was the manager at the Southampton Princess and president and chief executive at Cambridge Beaches.

Mr Winfield served as a government senator from 1990-1996 and was the Senate Leader from 1994 to 1996.

He won the Hotelier of the Year award in 2001.

Janeiro Tucker and Sean Tucker were also awarded the Queen’s Certificate and Badge of Honour.

Janeiro Tucker, a cricketer, captained the Bermuda team in its first one-day international against Canada in 2006. Known as “Mr Cup Match”, he is the annual event’s top run scorer.

Sean Tucker, a radio cricket commentator, will mark 35 years in broadcasting in 2019.

He inherited the title of “The Voice of Summer” from the late C.V. “Jim” Woolridge, who died in August aged 92.

The Bermuda awards were announced by John Rankin, the Governor, last night.