Biography of Ho Kwon Ping, Founder & Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings

“ Adversity is not a bad thing. That's how Banyan Tree was born - because we had no beach front.”

Ho Kwon Ping
Founder and Executive Chairman
Banyan Tree Holdings

About:

Ho Kwon Ping, referred to as "K.P.", founded luxury chain Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts in 1984. Banyan Tree Holdings is a Singapore-based leisure business group , which owns both listed and private companies engaged in the development, ownership and operation of exclusive luxury hotels, resorts, spa, residential homes and retail galleries based in Asia.

In his early life, K.P. worked as a journalist for the Far Eastern Economic review where he was detained for two months in the result of writing incendiary pro-Communist articles. 

After being tired of his writing job, K.P. took after his father's business called Wah Chang Group. When he first joined, he made a detrimental business decision in his first project, which nearly bankrupted the company. His father did not allow him to quit, but instead urge him to face the crisis and help recoup the losses. It was from here, K.P. grew stronger in business and rose to become one of Asia's most successful businessman.

Now, Banyan Tree has grown to more than 30 hotels and resorts and close to 150 spas and retail galleries, not forgetting three golf courses. Banyan Tree will open 16 new properties by 2015 as part of the ambitious expansion plan in China.

Ho Kwon Ping

Banyan Tree Hotel & Resort Group