Bill Hornbuckle, CEO of MGM Resorts International, has met with He Lifeng, China’s Vice Premier, in Beijing to discuss bilateral tourism and broader cooperation between China and international operators. The meeting, during a recent visit to Macau and Beijing, also included Xu Qifang, Deputy Director of the Hong Kong & Macau Affairs Office.
Discussions focused on strengthening tourism links, expanding travel beyond major urban centres and leveraging cultural, entertainment and sporting events to drive visitor engagement.
Bill Hornbuckle says: “We had a thoughtful and constructive conversation around tourism collaboration, cultural exchange and the role of travel as a catalyst for broader economic activity.”
The talks also addressed MGM’s long-term strategy in Macau and mainland China, with the company emphasising its commitment to high quality, experience led offerings aligned with evolving international travel demand.
Senior MGM China executives were in attendance, including Chairperson Pansy Ho and CEO Kenneth Feng Xiaofeng, alongside Fred Zhou, President of China Hospitality for MGM Resorts and a key figure in the group’s mainland development strategy.
The engagement comes at a sensitive moment in US/China relations, with renewed diplomatic activity expected in the coming weeks. A planned visit by US President Donald Trump to China in May would mark the first presidential trip to the country in nearly a decade.
For US-linked gaming operators with exposure to Macau, such high-level dialogue is closely watched. Tourism flows remain central to the recovery and growth trajectory of the market, with government policy and international relations continuing to shape demand patterns.
The meeting underlines the importance of cross border cooperation in sustaining Macau’s role as a global gaming and tourism hub, as operators’ position for the next phase of market development.
