Francis Lui has stepped into the role of chair at Galaxy Entertainment Group after the passing of his father, Lui Che Woo, the founder of the company, on November 7 at the age of 95. Lui’s appointment took place immediately following his father’s passing.
In a December 14 article, Macau Business paid tribute to the late Lui Che Woo, highlighting his pivotal role in transforming Cotai into a hub of gaming and hospitality. Galaxy Entertainment Group (GEG) manages two prominent resorts in this district — Galaxy Macau and Broadway Macau — in addition to StarWorld Macau located on the peninsula.
Francis Lui joined the board of GEG as a non-executive director back in 1987. His journey with the group began in 1979, and by 1987 he had become an executive director, eventually rising to the position of deputy chairman in 1997. Additionally, he holds the position of vice-chair at the Macau Institute for Tourism Studies.
In 2005, GEG made history by becoming the first integrated Macau casino concessionaire to be listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and became part of the Hang Seng Index in 2013. Francis expressed gratitude for his father’s leadership in a statement, vowing to transform GEG into the “world’s leading integrated tourism and leisure company” and to contribute to Macau’s diversification efforts beyond gaming.
### Macau’s Dynamic Development Agenda
Galaxy Macau stands as the world’s fifth-largest casino, featuring a vast 37,000-square-metre gaming area, numerous dining options, and the impressive Galaxy Arena, which seats 14,000 guests. The company prides itself on having the largest development pipeline among Macau’s casino operators. The fourth phase of the Galaxy Macau expansion, valued at HK$5.1 billion, is set to introduce six additional hotels and a 4,000-seat theatre, expanding GEG’s presence to over 2 million square metres in Cotai. This phase is projected to be completed by 2027.
Galaxy Macau earned the title of “Best Integrated Resort in Asia Pacific” in the Travel Leisure Luxury Awards this year. In January, Macau Business conducted an interview with the father-son duo, where they voiced support for the government’s aim to diversify the local economy away from gaming dependence.
Lui Che Woo stated, “We will continue to enhance the variety of Macau’s tourist source markets.” In its third-quarter earnings report, GEG confirmed that Phase 4 would focus heavily on non-gaming areas, particularly entertainment and family-friendly attractions.
### MICE Enhanced with Entertainment
Meetings & Conventions Asia reports that the Luis have pioneered the “MICE-E” concept, combining MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions) with entertainment. This development supports the government’s “4+1” initiative aimed at repositioning Macau from a gambling-centric city to a global tourist destination.
Francis Lui expressed his confidence in Macau’s ability to draw international tourists, emphasizing quality over cost competitiveness. According to Tom Chan Pak-lam of the Institute of Securities Dealers, interviewed by the South China Morning Post, the leadership and strategic direction of GEG are expected to remain stable under Francis Lui, ensuring a seamless transition.