Pansy Ho

Early life

Born on August 26, 1962, Pansy Ho studied marketing and business management in the United States before returning to Macau to work for her father’s companies. She served as the managing director of Shun Tak Holdings from 1999 until 2011 when she was appointed co-chair alongside her brother Lawrence Ho.

Pansy Ho is the eldest of five children born to Stanley Ho and Lucina Laam King Ying. She has three sisters, one brother, and twelve half-siblings. Her sister Daisy is the Chairman of SJM Holdings, her sister Josie is a singer, and her brother Lawrence is also a businessman.

After attending St. Paul’s Convent School in Causeway Bay (Hong Kong) for her Junior and Senior High School education, she went on to study at Castilleja School, an all-girls high school in Palo Alto, California. Ho later earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing and business from Santa Clara University. In May 2007, Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island awarded her an honorary doctorate.

In one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Hong Kong, The Peak, she purchased a property for HK$900 million in 2018, which was then Asia’s second-highest price for a residential property.

After her sister and cousin registered an interest in the handling of her father’s will, Ho lodged a caveat over her father’s estate at the Probate Registry in Hong Kong in August 2020.

Career

After a brief stint in the Hong Kong entertainment industry in 1981, appearing in the TVB series Breakthrough with actor Danny Chan, who had been in the industry for just two years, Pansy Ho launched her own public relations firm at the age of 26. Despite her father’s objections, she also supported her sister Josie Ho’s efforts to establish a singing career in the early 1990s.

Ho currently owns 29% of MGM Grand Macau, which has sparked controversy for business partner MGM Mirage. Following extensive hearings in March 2007, the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission found her to be a suitable business partner.

As the vice-chairperson and executive committee member of the Hong Kong Federation of Women, Pansy Ho is actively involved in various organizations. She also serves as the vice president of the Hong Kong Girl Guides Association and the founding honorary advisor and board director of The University of Hong Kong Foundation for Educational Development and Research. Additionally, she holds the position of court member of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the chairman of the development committee of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In 2015, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region appointed her as a Justice of the Peace.

Furthermore, Ho is a standing committee member of Beijing municipal committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, a standing committee member of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and the vice president of China Chamber of Tourism. She is the chairwoman of the French Macau Business Association and was awarded the Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite in 2009 at the French consulate-general of Hong Kong.

She is also a committee member of the United Nations Development Programme – Peace & Development Foundation and the executive committee member of World Travel and Tourism Council. Additionally, in 2013, she was appointed the first ambassador for the Louvre in China.

Under Pansy Ho’s leadership, Shun Tak Holdings has expanded its presence in the hospitality industry, particularly in Macau. The company owns and operates several hotels, including the Grand Hyatt Macau and the Hotel Lisboa Palace. It has also invested in the transportation sector, owning a ferry service that connects Macau to Hong Kong and other ports in mainland China.

Aside from her business pursuits, Pansy Ho is also involved in philanthropy and is a known advocate for the arts. She is the founder of the International Arts Symposium in Macau and has donated to several cultural organizations, including the Asia Society and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In 2019, she was named one of Forbes Asia’s Power Businesswomen.

Net Worth

She was named 25th on Forbes’ list of Hong Kong’s 50 richest people in 2021 with an estimated fortune of HK$31.8 billion (US$4.1 billion), and the 2nd richest woman in Hong Kong.

Achievement

Pansy Ho has received numerous awards and recognition for her contributions to the business and cultural community. Here are some of her notable achievements:

In 2007, she was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong government for her outstanding contributions to the community.

In 2013, she was named one of the "50 Most Powerful Women in Business" by Fortune Magazine.

In 2015, she was awarded the Visionary Award at the Women's Forum for the Economy and Society in Deauville, France.

In 2016, she was named the "Leading Woman in Tourism" at the China Hotel Investment Summit.

In 2018, she was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 10th World Chinese Economic Summit.

In 2019, she was named one of Forbes Asia's Power Businesswomen.

Aside from these accolades, Pansy Ho has also been involved in several cultural organizations and philanthropic efforts. She is the co-chair of the MGM Resorts Art & Culture Committee, which oversees the art collections and cultural programs at MGM Resorts properties worldwide. She is also a trustee of the Asia Society and a member of the board of governors of the Paris-based luxury goods conglomerate Kering. In 2020, she donated over $2 million to support COVID-19 relief efforts in Macau.