- More than 250 senior executives, policymakers and investors attended the event
- The forum features a cocktail reception and gala dinner with live culinary creations from SJM’s MICHELIN-starred restaurants
SJM Resorts, S.A., gathered together top international business leaders, serving as host partner and venue supporter of the “Fortune Leaders Forum 2026,” presented by Fortune and held at the Grand Lisboa Palace Resort Macau.
As a homegrown integrated tourism and leisure enterprise with deep roots in Macau, SJM’s support of the Forum is part of its ongoing commitment to advancing the city’s role as a platform for international business exchange, high-quality tourism and MICE development.
More than 250 senior executives, policymakers and investors gathered for the forum’s Macau debut, arriving from mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Switzerland. Among them were C-suite leaders of companies on the Fortune Global 500, Fortune Southeast Asia 500 and Fortune China 500.
Under the theme “Leadership in the Age of Convergence and Complexity,” the forum examined how some of the most pressing issues of our time are converging to reshape the global business landscape, unpacking what this new reality demands of modern leaders.
High-profile forum gathers top Global Business Leaders and elevates Macau’s MICE Profile.
The day began at The Grand Pavilion with opening remarks from Lee Williamson, Editorial Director of Fortune.
This was followed by a welcome address from Daisy Ho, Managing Director of SJM, who noted, “We are delighted to bring the inaugural edition of the Fortune Leaders Forum to Macau.
“By bringing such a distinguished gathering of global business leaders and thought leadership to our city, we are not only showcasing Macau’s MICE capabilities to key decision-makers, but also advancing our ‘1+4’ economic diversification strategy and strengthening the city’s reputation, influence and soft power on the global business stage.”
Following the welcoming addresses, the program moved into a full day of discussions spanning the global economic outlook, physical AI and autonomous systems, digital finance, energy transition, healthcare innovation and the future of travel.
Forty speakers took the stage, including the chief executives of Trip.com Group, Walmart China and Klook, alongside senior leaders from Starbucks, McKinsey, Boston Consulting Group, the Pacific Asia Travel Association and Syngenta Group.
Gerard Walker, Chief Hospitality Officer of SJM, also joined the panel “Reimagining Destination Economies,” which explored how tourism, technology, finance, and government can work together to build enduring travel destinations.
The forum continued into the evening at The Grand Hall, where a cocktail reception and gala dinner centered on live cooking stations from SJM’s MICHELIN Starred restaurants. Chefs from Robuchon au Dôme, The Eight, Palace Garden, Zuicho, Don Alfonso 1890 and Mesa by José Avillez prepared signature dishes while engaging guests with the stories behind their creation.
With a celebrated MICHELIN-starred dining portfolio, SJM created a distinctive networking setting for global attendees, against the backdrop of a city recognized as a “UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.”
Looking forward, SJM will continue to leverage its deep local roots, international hospitality standards and integrated resort capabilities to attract and host more globally influential events in Macau. By deepening the integration of “Tourism + MICE,” SJM aims to attract more high-value international visitors and contribute to the high- quality growth of Macau’s diversified economy, further enhancing the city’s appeal as a “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.”
