WELCOME TO OUR MGM SUSTAINABILITY NEWSLETTER
We’re doing a lot behind the scenes at MGM to reduce our impact on the environment and support the people that mean the most to us, including all our employees and community. Contributing to a better Macau through our arts and culture program is also an important aspect of our approach. Through this newsletter we will share our monthly sustainability highlights with you, and hope you will join us in our sustainability programs to help us Create a Better Tomorrow Today.
Home spring cleaning for senior citizens: In spirit of the Chinese tradition to spring clean the home before Chinese New Year as a symbol of good luck and fortune, MGM has teamed up with Centro de Dia “Brilho da Vida” to help in the festive activity for the last four years. On February 3, 140 of our volunteer team members rolled up their sleeves to help 200 households at the Fai Chi Kei housing unit for senior citizens to get their homes ready for the New Year. At the end of each spring clean, the traditional Fai Chun red banners were placed on doorways and windows and New Year goodie bags were given to wish households a healthy and prosperous year ahead.
The event also allowed for fun and entertainment, including a jamming session with our CEO!
An extra special CNY gift for our hotel guests: For Chinese New Year, we treated our guests to both a tasty and meaningful gift. During February 19-21, all guests were surprised with Chinese New Year fortune bags, consisting of brightly-colored, hand-stitched bags containing festive cookies and cupcakes, all of which were prepared by people with learning disabilities in association with Fuhong Society of Macau and Sem Meng Chi Restaurant.
Recognizing Macau’s outstanding teen talent: On February 20, MGM announced its sponsorship of the Macau Outstanding Teenagers Award, an initiative organized biennially by the Young Men’s Christian Association of Macau (YMCA) to celebrate teenagers recognized as exemplary role models in the community. Applications and nominations are now being accepted until March 31, with the award ceremony being in September 2016.
Lion dance performances to mark the New Year: On February 9, MGM held a traditional Lion Dance Blessing Ceremony. Eight lions with vivid costumes marched into the hotel lobby entrance for the eye-dotting ritual carried out by management (a ceremony which signifies the awakening of the lion’s spirit before the lion dance performance). Two renowned local lion troupes, Associação Desportiva e Recreativa Hong Wai de Macau and Clube Desportivo Hang Sung de Macau, took part in a thrilling lion dance battle, impressing tourists and guests alike with gravity-defying moves and acrobatic pole-jumping routines.
We were also proud to have our MGM Junior Lion Dance graduates take to the stage to provide a unique performance at a government dinner. Back in July 2015, MGM partnered up with Hong Wai Sports and Recreations Association of Macau to hold the Junior Lion Dance Training Program for young children, aged 4-10 years. This unique training program aimed to cultivate interest in Chinese traditional dance and culture amongst the youth in Macau.
Promoting life-long learning: As W.B Yeats said “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire”; at MGM we believe it’s never too late to learn and light the fire for the love of learning. On February 15, MGM launched its High School Diploma Program for all local employees, brought to MGM through a partnership with Macau Education and Youth Affairs Bureau and Escola Secundária Luso-Chinesa de Luís Gonzaga Gomes. Altogether 21 student have now enrolled in the program, which will be taught for the most part at MGM by dedicated professionals, with work schedule flexibility being offered to accommodate classes.
Table Games’ Skills Enhancement and Development Program: MGM is proud to offer our team members the best available skills and resources so they can reach their career aspirations and achieve greatness. MGM consistently supports its casino professionals through a wide range of training programs to pave the way for career advancement of local talent. Last month, MGM celebrated a milestone in its Table Games’ Skills Enhancement and Development Program in congratulating 260 MGM Pit Managers having completed the intensive three-day Foundation of Casino Management Program (delivered through a joint collaboration between MGM and Macau Polytechnic Institute). On February 17, senior management joined program graduates for a special certificate presentation ceremony.
Waste Less Week: Throughout March and April, our motto is Let’s Waste Less! Throughout this period we will be launching a host of employee activities aimed at waste reduction, including two competitions - a Recycling Bag Design Competition and Green Ideas Competition – as well as other activities to raise awareness (whilst having fun!).
This campaign is in support the 9th Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition which will take place from March 31 to April 2 and will focus on the theme of waste reduction.
Paper recycling success: Throughout February, we gave an extra push to our recycling efforts calling for all our offices to be mindful of paper consumption and recycle more. From this initiative, we are delighted to report that we recycled 2 more tons of paper this month, which is approximately the weight of an elephant! This not only saves 34 trees, but also 4 barrels of oil, 8,200 kWh of electricity, 8 cubic meters of landfill and 63,560 liters of water, which would normally be used in the production process of virgin paper.
