Lawrence Ho is the Chairman and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment Limited (Nasdaq: MLCO) and Melco International Development Limited (HKEx: 200). He oversees the companies’ 21st century vision and strategy, forging the way ahead in global gaming and entertainment.
Taking over Melco International in 2001, Lawrence commenced a decade-long transformation of the business into a truly pioneering leisure and entertainment group. He founded Melco Resorts & Entertainment in 2004, with a clear vision to create a brand-new style of integrated resorts. Melco’s portfolio has gone on to win more Forbes and MICHELIN awards than any industry competitors, together with accolades normally reserved for cultural masterpieces such as TIME’s 100 Greatest Places, and Prix Versailles, the World Architecture and Design Award at UNESCO.
Initially, Melco launched Altira Macau, a boutique hotel and casino that focused on delivering its guests enhanced Forbes 5-star experiences. This was followed by City of Dreams in Macau, as a truly integrated resort that set new world standards in lifestyle and entertainment. City of Dreams quickly became the home to numerous MICHELIN-starred restaurants and gained global recognition for its extraordinary water-based extravaganza, The House of Dancing Water.
Lawrence then focused on expanding the Melco brand beyond Asia, introducing its destination concepts to fast-growing consumer segments around the world. In 2015, Studio City, a Hollywood-inspired resort that delivers unique and exciting guest experiences was launched, and in that same year the company opened City of Dreams Manila, raising the bar radically in terms of quality and excitement in the Philippines region.
Through a competitive global tendering process, 2017 saw Cyprus award Melco its first and only casino license. In the following year, Melco celebrated the grand opening of Morpheus, Macau’s newest iconic landmark designed by the late Zaha Hadid, at City of Dreams. Then in 2023, City of Dreams Mediterranean opened as Europe’s first and largest premier integrated resort. It was announced in 2024 that Melco is further partnering with John Keells Holdings PLC, Sri Lanka's largest listed conglomerate, for an integrated resort development in central Colombo – City of Dreams Sri Lanka.
Today, Melco destinations are internationally recognized for their singular focus on delivering imaginative and high-quality entertainment experiences and leading the industry’s shift towards truly diversified entertainment.
Lawrence is a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and a member of the advisory committee of the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce. He was awarded the Medal of Merit-Tourism by the Macau SAR government for contributing to the territory's tourism and earned numerous awards including "Asia’s Best CEO" at the Asian Excellence Awards for the thirteenth time in 2024.
