MGM is committed to talent cultivation in a bid to foster the advancement of Macau. To further promote the development of " Tourism + Gastronomy" and enhance the overall competitiveness of local tourism talents, MGM earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM) – with the support of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ). Under the collaboration, MGM and IFTM will jointly organize several youth talent development programs over the next three years, aiming to lay a solid foundation for the professional development of Macau's youth. The first joint initiative, namely the "Creative Cities of Gastronomy – MGM Food and Beverage Professional Career Program Series", is designed to cultivate high-quality catering professionals in Macau. During the program, MGM has tailored a series of fast-track training sessions for IFTM students majoring in culinary arts management, including on-the-job training and internships, while participants may also enjoy the opportunity for employment at MGM. In addition, MGM donated kitchen equipment worth MOP 1.5 million to IFTM, for the sake of optimizing the institute’s kitchen facilities and education standard.

The MOU signing ceremony was held at IFTM's Mong-Há Campus and attended by a line-up of guests, including Sun Yaohua, Director of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Wong Ka Ki, Deputy Director of DSEDJ; Fanny Vong, President of IFTM; Connie Loi, Vice President of IFTM; Diamantina Luíza do Rosário Sá. Coimbra, Vice President of IFTM; Wendy Yu, Executive Vice President of Human Resources of MGM; Keith Lei, Senior Vice President of Human Resources & Sustainability of MGM; Irene Wong, Senior Vice President of Public & Community Relations of MGM; Francis Tan, Vice President of Learning & Talent Management of MGM; Geoffrey Simmons, Vice President of Food & Beverage of MGM; as well as IFTM  faculty members and students and MGM's management team. Following the ceremony, a seminar on MGM's food safety management system was held on-site, where Winston Yeung, Executive Director of Safety of MGM, shared relevant knowledge and skills to help students enhance their understanding of the industry.

Fanny Vong, President of IFTM, said, "IFTM has always been leveraging its advantages to cultivate industry talents. This collaboration with MGM aims to provide more training opportunities for our Culinary Arts Management students, broadening their horizons, and thus nurturing more industry elites for MGM and various sectors of society. IFTM will encourage students to sign up for the program that enables them to keep tabs on industry trends and continuously improve their skills and employment competitiveness. Besides, we would like to express our gratitude for MGM's donation of kitchen equipment. Such a move shows MGM’s support to advance the city’s education development. We look forward to working closely with MGM to jointly promote the diversified development of 'Tourism + Gastronomy' and bring new impetus to the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.”

Wendy Yu, Executive Vice President of Human Resources of MGM, said, "MGM has always been committed to nurturing talents in the local tourism industry through innovative and diverse approaches. We have proactively joined hands with various parties all along to cultivate tourism professionals. This time, we are delighted to establish such a long-term collaboration with IFTM, leveraging the synergy between academic and business sectors, to provide local culinary students with upskilling opportunities. Besides, we made special donations of kitchen equipment to the institute. Through such an overarching approach, we both aspire to promote the professional development of local catering talents, and further enhance the charm of this UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.'"

In the future, MGM will continue to play a leading role in facilitating talent cultivation and development for the local hotel industry. The Company will also further strengthen the cooperation with IFTM to launch more joint training programs, with a view to enhancing the competitiveness of Macau's tourism industry, and consolidating Macau's position as a World Center of Tourism and Leisure.

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About MGM

MGM is an abbreviation for MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEx: 2282) and is a leading developer, owner and operator of gaming and lodging resorts in the Greater China region. We are the holding company of MGM Grand Paradise, SA which holds one of the six gaming concessions to run casino games in Macau. MGM Grand Paradise, SA owns and operates MGM MACAU, the award-winning premium integrated resort located on the Macau Peninsula and MGM COTAI, a contemporary luxury integrated resort in Cotai, which opened in early 2018 and more than doubles our presence in Macau. 

MGM MACAU is a Forbes Five-Star luxury integrated resort inspired by the arts with every element of the resort infused with creativity and style. MGM MACAU has approximately 600 guest rooms and suites and boasts a number of distinguishing features, including the architecturally stunning European-inspired Grande Praça, housed under a soaring glass ceiling. MGM MACAU’s world class facilities include the MGM Art Space, dedicating over 5,000 square feet to display authentic works of art, conference and event facilities, spa, and seven signature restaurants and bars to fulfill any gastronomic craving. Our property is conveniently located on the Macau Peninsula and is directly connected to the luxury retail shopping complex, One Central.

MGM COTAI is the latest integrated resort of MGM in China. Designed as the “jewelry box” of Cotai, it offers approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites, Asia’s first dynamic theater, meeting space, high end spa, retail offerings and food and beverage outlets as well as the first international Mansion at MGM for the ultimate luxury experience. The Spectacle at MGM COTAI becomes the record holder of the largest free-span gridshell glazed roof (self-supporting) on January 19, 2019, making it the first architectural and structural GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for Macau, China. MGM COTAI is being developed to drive greater product diversification and bring more advanced and innovative forms of entertainment to Macau as it grows as a global tourist destination. MGM COTAI is the only mega complex and hotel in Macau to gain three-star certification in both Green Building Design and Operation Label, as well as the first hotel in the Greater Bay Area and second in Greater China to receive the certifications.

MGM China is majority owned by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, ARIA, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Park MGM. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:    

Jessie Kuan

Executive Director of Public Relations

MGM

Tel: (853) 8806 3412

Email: jessiekuan@mgm.mo

Karen Lam

Senior Corporate Relations Manager

MGM

Tel: (853) 8806 3421

Email: karenlam@mgm.mo