MGM always strives to promote inclusive tourism and create accessible journeys for all. Since 2019, MGM collaborated with the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and the Macau Deaf Association (MDA) to co-launch the “Power in Our Hands” Community Outreach eLearning Program of Macao Sign Language (Program), leveraging public-private partnerships to equip industry practitioners with barrier-free communication skills. Earlier, MGM and the partnering units have taken the Program further by launching a new Hengqin-themed module, designed to not only sharpen the industry’s sign language skills upon Hengqin’s travel information, but also foster Macau-Hengqin tourism integration and inclusive tourism in the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

 

Since its launch in 2019, MGM with our partners initiated the Program to offer complimentary online sign language courses to all walks of life. In 2021, the extended partnership with Guangdong Deaf Association and Guangdong Province Sign Language Association brought in a novel GBA-themed sign language course. The Program has reached 26,000 views to date. It was earlier acclaimed as the “Quality Training Course” in the “Construction of Quality Training Courses & Learning Projects of the Year 2021-2022”, organized by Training Magazine of a mainland media outlet Xinhua Daily Media Group.

 

To further enrich the Program, MGM once again joined hands with MGTO, MDA, and Guangdong Deaf Association, with support from Guangdong Province Sign Language Association, to launch the Hengqin-themed sign language module titled “Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin Tourism & Hospitality Chapters”. An inauguration ceremony, held at MGM COTAI, was attended by a line-up of guests, including Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of MGTO; Huang Huagai, Deputy Secretary-General and Director of the Department of Social Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Macao SAR; Fanny Vong, President of the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies (IFTM); Choi Kam Fu, Vice Director-General of the Macao Federation of Trade Unions (FAOM); Ng Siu Lai, President of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau (UGAMM); Wong Kam Sun, Director of MDA; Wendy Yu, Executive Vice President of Human Resources of MGM; Francis Tan, Vice President of Learning and Talent Management of MGM. The event also received support from China Disabled Persons Federation – with Yang Yang, member of the Executive Council of the China Disabled Persons Federation and President of the China Association of the Deaf, expressing her appreciation for the Program via a video on-site and its members attending the event online.

Following the kick-off ceremony, a symposium “Inclusive Tourism in GBA” took place, during which four guest speakers – Virginia Lau, Assistant Professor of IFTM; Bonnie Lam, Executive of Guangdong Office of FAOM; Ceci Si, Executive of UGAMM’s Macau Assistive Technology Resources Center; and Leong Tat Fong, Audiologist of MDA – shared their insights into the development of accessible tourism. To accommodate the needs of audiences with hearing impairments, the entire event was provided with subtitles and sign language interpreters. The Assistive Technology Resources Center also set up a display booth to enable participants to know more about assistive tools designed for people with disabilities. Besides, a special, inclusive MGM Art Tour Guide, in collaboration with the sign language interpreter from Macau Deaf Association, was also offered on-site.

For those interested to attend the online courses, please visit the following link: https://www.mgm.mo/en/mgm/gba_sign_languages_elearning.

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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/subconcessions 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 Holdings Limited 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, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. 

 

For media enquiries, please contact:    

 

Jessie Kuan

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