By Damian Martinez, journalist at G&M News.
Almost two years ago, you started working as Social Impact and Sustainability Communications Manager at MGM Resorts International. What are your responsibilities in the role and what is your assessment of the work done?
If I had to sum up my responsibilities in one word, it would be “storytelling.” Our Social Impact and Sustainability (SIS) Communications Team collaborates with many departments across the organization to share the story of why this work matters and the impacts that our efforts have on our employees, guests, and the communities we service. Our SIS initiatives are divided into three main pillars: a) Environmental Sustainability, b) Investing in our Communities, and c) Fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Over the past two years, I have had the privilege of witnessing and contributing to significant strides in our SIS efforts. We’ve successfully launched numerous initiatives that have not only met, but exceeded our goals in Environmental Sustainability, Philanthropy, and Inclusion. These successes are a testament to the collaborative efforts across the organization and the commitment of our leadership at MGM Resorts International to make a positive impact.
What does the concept of “ESG” mean to you personally?
To me, ESG means “responsibility.” Organizations such as MGM Resorts are leaders in our communities and ESG represents a commitment to act responsibly, ethically, and sustainably in everything we do. It’s about ensuring that our actions today do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It also means being transparent and accountable to our stakeholders, continuously striving to create positive social, environmental, and economic impacts.
What initiatives MGM Resorts International carried out during 2023 to promote social impact and sustainability?
In 2023, we celebrated many successes with our SIS efforts. In terms of Environmental Sustainability, last year, we achieved a significant milestone in our commitment to energy efficiency. In 2010, we committed ourselves to decarbonization by joining the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge. Through a series of investments and initiatives, we achieved an impressive 23% reduction in total energy use. Additionally, we made great strides in water conservation as part of an innovative pilot project in partnership with the Las Vegas Grand Prix for the Formula 1 race. This project aimed to create the first net-zero consumptive water use race in Formula 1 history, by utilizing atmospheric water generators to capture water vapor, typically considered waste, and reintroduced into our water systems. We also increased our Community Investments, supporting local non-profits and educational programs. Our volunteer program saw a record number of employee participation, contributing thousands of hours to community service. There were over 81,840 hours volunteered in our communities by our employees, and 2.7 million dollars has been donated to 109 community organizations through the MGM Resorts Foundation. In terms of fostering Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in 2023, we made more than 2.3 million dollars in charitable donations and sponsorships and volunteered more than 3,700 hours with over 100 advocacy organizations that range from supporting veterans, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQ+ communities and ethnic minorities. We made great strides in our Supplier Diversity Program, achieving over 412 million dollars on domestic biddable spend with diverse-owned businesses. This led to the creation of over 4,000 jobs across the United States. We also increased the total number of graduates of our Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program to 105 small businesses.
May is ‘Mental Health Awareness’ Month. How does the company support their employees’ physical and mental wellbeing?
One of the many reasons I value my role here at MGM Resorts is the way we prioritize the mental and physical wellbeing of all our employees. Through its “World of Wellbeing” program, MGM Resorts offers a wide variety of benefits and resources like the Employee Assistance Program (professional mental health supports that are available 24x7x365), Sabbatical Program (extended paid leave to qualified individuals for personal growth and rejuvenation), Flexible Time Off (available for many types of employees to improve work-life balance), work from home and hybrid working arrangements whenever possible, Wellness Fairs hosted at our properties throughout the year, access to Health Coaches from Life Time Fitness, Smoking Cessation Program that provides financial incentives to quit smoking, and free access to Grokker Health and Wellness app for all employees.
How could the gaming industry as a whole improve its actions regarding social impact and sustainability?
From my perspective, it seems that our industry peers have embraced Social Impact and Sustainability initiatives. But as with most undertakings, there is always room for improvement. I believe that, as long as organizations continue to collaborate and share best practices, the gaming and hospitality industries can significantly enhance their impact.
What are your professional objectives for 2024?
In 2024, my professional objectives include expanding our storytelling capabilities to reach a broader audience, deepening our engagement with community partners, and further sharing the innovation in our sustainability practices. I aim to amplify the voices of those directly impacted by our initiatives, ensuring their stories are heard and celebrated.