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Kwon Ho
Chairman at Banyan Tree Holdings
Ho Kwon Ping, born on August 24, 1952, is a Singaporean businessman renowned as the founder and executive chairman of Banyan Group (formerly Banyan Tree Holdings) and Laguna Resorts and Hotels, as well as the executive chairman of Thai Wah Public Company.21 Banyan Group owns listed and private companies involved in hotels, resorts, spas, residential homes, and other lifestyle activities.16
Key highlights about Ho Kwon Ping:
- Early Life and Education: Ho was born in Hong Kong to businessman and diplomat Ho Rih Hwa and author Li Lienfung.2 He was educated in Thailand, Taiwan, the US, and Singapore.23 He attended Tunghai University in Taiwan, Stanford University, and the University of Singapore.13
- Career:
- Banyan Group: Ho Kwon Ping launched Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts in 1994 and currently manages more than 40 hotels and resorts, 70 spas, 80 retail galleries, and three golf courses, with another 20 resorts under development.1 In 2024, Banyan Tree was rebranded to Banyan Group, marking its expansion beyond luxury hospitality.3
- Other Roles: He is the founder and current chairman of the Board of Trustees of Singapore Management University (SMU).12 He has chaired Singapore Power and MediaCorp Singapore and served on the boards of Standard Chartered Bank, Diageo, Singapore Airlines, and GIC.2 Additionally, he serves as executive chairman of Thai Wah Public Company, a family business engaged in starch and food products listed in Thailand.1
- Controversies: While working as a journalist for the Far Eastern Economic Review, Ho was detained under the Internal Security Act for writing controversial articles and was held in solitary confinement for two months.27
- Banyan Tree's Beginnings: Ho converted an abandoned tin mine in Phuket into Asia's first integrated resort, setting a precedent for sustainable tourism.3 The first Banyan Tree resort, "Banyan Tree Phuket," opened in 1994, featuring the first Banyan Tree Spa.5 The name Banyan Tree was inspired by Banyan Tree Bay in Hong Kong, where Ho and his wife lived.57
- Recognition: Ho’s dedication to sustainability has garnered him numerous accolades, including multiple Lifetime Achievement Awards.3
- CNBC Interview: In an interview with CNBC Make It, Ho mentioned that becoming an entrepreneur was not his original aspiration but rather a result of limited options and his individualistic nature.5
Ho Kwon Ping's LinkedIn personal profile ID is kwon-ping-ho-010767100.4
Highlights
Jan 23 · cnbc.com
Banyan Tree: His hospitality empire is worth over $200 million - CNBC
Jan 1 · milkeninstitute.org
Kwon Ping Ho | Milken Institute
Jan 20 · wikidata.org
Ho Kwon Ping - Wikidata
Dec 6 · bbc.com
From prisoner to millionaire: The Banyan Tree story - BBC News


