Quick Facts
Biography
Sabrina Ho Chiu Yeng (Chinese: 何超盈) is a Macau-based entrepreneur. She is Director and CEO of Poly Auction Macau Ltd, founder and CEO of Chiu Yeng Culture Limited and owner of Regency Hotel Macau. In 2016, Ho was listed in Forbes Asia's Power Businesswomen: Ones To Watch for her contributions to the upcoming Palazzo Versace and Karl Lagerfeld hotels in Macau. Ho is also an art collector and frequently seen at celebrity events.
Life and education
Sabrina Ho was born on 24 September 1990 in Hong Kong. She is the eldest daughter of gaming tycoon Stanley Ho and his fourth ‘wife’ Angela Leong On Kei. Her family has Jewish Dutch ancestry from Charles Maurice Bosman. She also is reported to have English ancestry. She has two younger brothers and a younger sister; Arnaldo Ho Yau Heng, Mario Ho Yau Kwan and Alice Ho Chiu Yan respectively.
Ho studied painting since childhood and has stated that she first put brush to canvas at about the age of four. Her father's own vast personal collection of antiques and artworks along with his support for the art community influenced her from a young age.
Ho attended primary school in Hong Kong, spent a year at St. Hilda’s School for girls on Australia’s Gold Coast, and went to secondary school at Queen Margaret’s boarding school in Yorkshire, England.
Ho pursued her interest in the arts into university deciding to study an arts major in University of Hong Kong. She graduated in 2013.
Ho completed an MBA course in Switzerland. The course was taken to help to prepare her for hotel management.
Ho has a Hong Kong real estate salesperson license, and is a certified financial consultant.
Career
Sabrina Ho worked in several other jobs before starting her own companies. She worked at a bank, interned at a law firm, and assisted a high court judge. Her job as a high judge's assistant at the age of 17 left the strongest impression. She remembers making coffees, photocopying, and attending court cases during this time.
In 2015, Ho founded Chiu Yeng Culture Limited, a company dedicated to identifying and promoting young artists in the region via scholarships and exhibitions in public art fairs.
In 2015, Ho also became director and CEO of Poly Auction Macau Ltd, an auction house specializing in contemporary Chinese and Asian art, Chinese calligraphy, antiques and precious jewelry. Poly Auction Macau's first auction was held in January in Regency Macau. The auction amount was over HKD 245 million.
The company was co‑founded by Poly Auction Hong Kong and Ho's Chiu Yeng Culture Ltd. Poly Auction Macau is 51 per cent owned by Poly and 49 per cent owned by Chiu Yeng Culture Ltd.
Ho's ties with Poly group runs deep. She worked as a summer intern at Poly Auction Hong Kong earlier in her career, and her father famously donated a boar head from the Old Summer Palace zodiac fountain to China's state-run Poly Art Museum in 2003.
In 2015, Ho also acquired and took over management of Regency Art Hotel Macau. Ho is in the process of re branding Regency Hotel Macau as an art hotel focused on art related events for Chiu Yeng Culture and Poly Auction Macau. In an interview, Ho said the hotel's old Portuguese style brings up memories of family weekends with her father.
Ho's recent investments and ambitions in Macau comes at a time when the Macao SAR government is focusing on promoting the city's non-gaming aspects such as tourism, cultural and creative development.
Besides her forays in the art world, Ho is also the project manager for the upcoming Palazzo Versace and Karl Lagerfield hotels in Macau. These two hotels will be part of Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM)'s Lisboa Palace complex which is scheduled to be opened in 2017.
Ho's parents have a strong influence on her. She describes her mother as motivated, bold, strict but fair "super woman" at doing business. She describes her father as a superman at business who treats his employees very well.
Ho did not deny preparing to be her mother's successor in her family's business empire. When asked about this she praised her mother's motivation and energy to get things done, and stated that she would need her younger sibling's help with this.
Ho is also a founding member of SOCIL Cultural.
Ho is also in charge of a boutique hotel project in Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong.
Personal art collection
Ho spent tens of millions on paintings by contemporary Chinese artist Wu Guanzhong. The paintings were purchased for her private art collection. Ho has long admired the work of Wu Guanzhong due to its western ideological influence and international outlook.
Art collecting appears to be a tradition in the family. Ho revealed in an interview buying paintings for each other as birthday presents was quite typical. Ho would go to exhibitions like Art Basel and purchase what she likes.
Ho once stated that she likes artists who "make you think, who are a little bit surreal, like Dalí."
Community involvement
Sabrina Ho is also a member of Shenzhen CPPCC Committee, Director of the Hong Kong CPPCC Youth Association, and committee member of the Youth Committee of the Macao Chamber of Commerce
Ho is also an Organizing Committee Chairman for Boao Youth Forum for Asia, a non-profit organization co-organized by Boao Forum for Asia dedicated to offering "perspectives on Asian economic trends, youth development, education, technology, creativity and innovation."
Ho is also Vice Chair of amFAR Hong Kong and participated in the LVMH X UNICEF campaign.
In 2016 November, Sabrina Ho was appointed as Honorary Ambassador Korean Culture of Hong Kong and Macau by Festive Korea. This was in recognition of the work Sabrina Ho did in community outreach and education programs for Festive Korea. Festive Korea is organized by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Hong Kong and Macau.
Public appearances
In 2012 October Ho attended the launch of Moiselle's autumn-winter collection at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Ho is reportedly personal friends with Moiselle creative director Harris Chan Pak Hei. Moiselle is a high fashion brand based in Hong Kong.
In 2015 October, Ho attended the Moschino VIP Cocktail party at their Lee Garden Boutique store, Hong Kong.
In 2016 January Ho attended the Academy Ball held in Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong. The fundraising event raised over HKD 7,000,000 for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
In 2016 March, Ho attended the American Foundation for AIDs Research charity event (amfAR Hong Kong) held in Shaw Studios, Tseung Kwan O, Hong Kong. Her younger brother Mario and sister Alice were also in attendance at the black tie event. Ho donated five items to the charity, which is expected to raise around HKD 3,000,000.
In 2016 April Ho spoke at the Harvard China Forum held in Boston. Ho was invited as a guest speaker on the Art panel to speak on the topic of "Arts in the Next Decade."
In 2016 May Ho attended the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. Ho was invited in support of the film Loving.
In 2016 May Ho attended the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS Gala in Antibes, France.
In 2016 June Ho attended the Royal Ascot event held at Ascot Racecourse, Berkshire, England. Ho represented her father by invitation of Sir Benjamin Slade to be "her majesty's official guest". Royal Ascot is Britain’s most valuable race meeting, where many of the world’s finest racehorses compete for more than £6.58 million in prize money.
In 2016 July she attended the Monaco Red Cross Ball despite terrorism fears from the 2016 Nice attack.
In 2016 September Ho attended the Queen Charlotte's Ball held at the Royal Horseguards Hotel, London. King George III who introduced the ball in 1780 to celebrate his wife's Queen Charlotte's birthday.
In 2016 September Ho held a press conference for the "Y Design Exhibition" organized by Chiu Yeng Culture. The exhibition will showcase graduate artworks and will be held at the Regency Hotel Macau.
In 2016 September Ho held her birthday at the Oscar Wilde Bar in London.
In 2016 November Ho held the second Poly Macau Art Auction event in Regency Art Hotel, Macau. Notable items for auction included Wu GuangZhong's "Snowscape in Beijing" estimated to be worth over HKD 14 million, and also a cloisonne-enamel ram vessel, Zun, estimated to be worth over HKD 3.2 million.
In 2016 November Ho held the 6075 Art Fair in Regency Art Hotel, Macau. The art fair contained works from 60 young artists from Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, mainland China, Japan, Myanmar and Malaysia. Ho stated that over 500 works were sold at this event. The event was supported by the Macau Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ).
In 2017 January Ho attended the Academy Ball which raises money for the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Ho modelled Jaeger-LeCoultre timepieces on stage as part of the event.
In 2017 March Ho held a press conference in Regency Art Hotel, Macau regarding Poly Auction Macau and Poly Auction HK's first co-auction. The co-auction will feature works of contemporary artists, including Zeng Fanzhi and his “Mask Series 1996 No. 6.” Other featured artists include Xu Beihong, Li Keran, Wu Guanzhong, Chu Teh-chun and Zao Wou-ki.
In 2017 March Ho attended third annual amfAR Gala Hong Kong at Shaw Studios. The event raised over $3.5 million for amfAR’s life-saving AIDS research programs.
In 2017 April Ho attended Poly Auction Hong Kong’s 5th Anniversary Dinner, held at the Conrad Hotel.
In 2017 April Ho attended the Goxip Marketplace Launch Party, held at Posto Pubblico.
In 2017 April Ho attended the Moiselle 20th Anniversary Fashion Show.
Trivia
Ho plays Pokémon Go. Her favourite Pokémon is reportedly Jigglypuff.
Ho has a limited edition Chanel (Coco Chanel) 1000% Bearbrick in her office.
Ho is interested in foreign languages. She can speak Italian, Portuguese, Mandarin, Cantonese and English.
Ho purchased two adjoining units on the 10th floor of the prestigious Mount Nicholson development. She reportedly paid HKD 644.6 million for the two properties. Mount Nicholson is an iconic building on The Peak and a popular address for Hong Kong’s richest families.
Ho was on the cover of 2016 Oct-Nov edition of Macau Tatler.
Ho was featured on the cover of 2017-01 edition of Macau Inc.
Ho is best friends with Winnie Chiu's youngest sister. Winnie Chiu is head of Dorsett Hospitality.
Ho is childhood friends with Yen Kuok, the youngest daughter of Malaysian-Chinese tycoon Robert Kuok.
Ho was a bridesmaid for Angelababy at her wedding.
Ho's role model is Angelina Jolie.
Ho once appeared in a Manner Production video as herself.