[June 18, 2026, Macau] In recognition of Sustainable Gastronomy Day, a United Nations-designated observance held annually on June 18, MGM co-organized the sustainable gastronomy forum “Leading the Shift: The Power of Sustainable Gastronomy to Create Change” with The Sustainable Restaurant Association and Winnow yesterday (June 17) at Vista, MGM COTAI. The event brought together representatives from the government, academia, hospitality, and sustainability sectors to exchange practical insights on the future of responsible dining in Macau.

As Macau continues to strengthen its position as the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure　and UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the event explored how sustainable dining practices can support the high-quality development of the city’s food and beverage sector while enhancing operational resilience, guest experience and environmental responsibility. The event also aimed to support industry capacity building by encouraging peers to adopt more sustainable practices across sourcing, kitchen operations and dining experiences.

The forum also underscored MGM’s continued efforts to translate sustainable gastronomy from discussion into day-to-day operations. In 2025, Aji at MGM COTAI became the first restaurant in Macau to achieve the highest three-star rating under the Food Made Good Standard, reflecting its commitment to responsible sourcing, resource efficiency and sustainable dining practices.

MGM has also installed Winnow Vision AI+ technology in its kitchens to help track, understand, and reduce avoidable food waste. Extending this commitment to guest experiences, MGM is participating in this month’s Sustainable SEAFood Festival in Hong Kong, while also advancing responsible procurement, having achieved 100% cage-free sourcing for both shell eggs and liquid eggs.

The program opened with welcome remarks by Geoffrey Simmons, Vice President of Food & Beverage of MGM. He said: “As a UNESCO City of Gastronomy and a global tourism destination, Macau is well equipped to drive sustainable luxury hospitality initiatives. The convergence of culinary excellence and sustainability leadership is a top priority for MGM, and luxury hospitality and environmental responsibility can thrive together.”

The welcome remarks were followed by a presentation by Karen Finnerty, Director of Growth & Partnerships APAC at The Sustainable Restaurant Association, on global sustainable hospitality practices. Christy Chen, Business Development Lead at Winnow Solutions, a UK-based technology company, then shared how artificial intelligence (AI) and data can help hospitality operators reduce food waste and improve efficiency.

A panel discussion, moderated by Karen Finnerty, featured Ruby O, Assistant Vice President of Sustainability and Business Synergy of MGM; Christy Chen; Dr. Catherine Li, Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Creative Tourism and Intelligent Technologies of the Macao University of Tourism; and Steven Lo, Director of Quality Compliance at JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong

During the panel discussion, Ruby O said, “At MGM, we see sustainability as a catalyst for innovation and value creation across an integrated journey — from responsible sourcing and reducing food waste, to creating environments that support the well-being of our guests and employees. Our collaboration with partners such as the Sustainable Restaurant Association and Winnow allows us to bring together global standards, technology, and practical solutions to drive measurable impact.

By connecting culinary excellence with innovation and sustainability, we hope to contribute to shaping a more resilient and forward-looking hospitality landscape in Macau and beyond.”

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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 Greater China. 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. 

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. The POLY MGM MUSEUM spanning almost 2,000 square meters, is constructed in accordance with Chinese national standards for the exhibition of Grade-One cultural relics. MGM MACAU’s world class facilities also include 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.

Designed as the “jewelry box” of Cotai, MGM COTAI offers approximately 1,400 hotel rooms and suites, meeting space, high end spa, retail offerings, food and beverage outlets as well as the first international Mansion at MGM for the ultimate luxury experience.  MGM has joined hands with renowned Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou to set up the “Macau 2049” residency in MGM Theater. 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:    

Serena Chin                       
Director of Corporate Communications
MGM 
Tel: (853) 8806 3412
Email: serenachin@mgm.mo

Karen Lam
Assistant Director of Corporate Relations
MGM
Tel: (853) 8806 3421
Email: karenlam@mgm.mo