MGM Resorts International joins World Observance of Earth Hour 2019

For the 13th consecutive year, MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) will participate in Earth Hour, the worldwide effort that puts climate change in the spotlight. A total of 19 MGM Resort properties around the globe, including Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, will turn off all non-essential exterior lighting, rooftop signage and marquees to symbolize its ongoing commitment to environmental sustainability. All interior and essential lights will remain on during this time, and property operations should not be affected.

Earth Hour is on 30 March from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. local time and is sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund. Every year millions of people, businesses and landmarks set aside an hour to host events, switch off their lights and celebrate the Earth Hour movement. Earth Hour 2019 comes at a critical time, when the discussion of climate change has been elevated in the global arena.

Exterior lighting, rooftop signage, marquees and front features at all the MGM Resorts' major Las Vegas properties, as well as Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Mississippi, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in New Jersey, MGM National Harbor in Maryland, MGM China in Macau and Cotai, will also participate.

"MGM Resorts is proud to be a leader in environmental sustainability and we are deeply committed to making sure we do our part to conserve energy," said Cindy Ortega, MGM Resorts International Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer. "Earth Hour gives us an opportunity to join many other global voices that recognize climate change as one of the most important issues we face today."

Earth Hour, which began as a symbolic, lights out event in Sydney, Australia in 2007, is the world’s largest grassroots movement that advocates for eco-consciousness. More than 180 countries and territories, and millions of people around the world are engaged in this celebration as a global moment of solidarity for the planet. Notable world-famous landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House and The Acropolis of Athens also take part.

Earth Hour is one of the many ways MGM Resorts focuses on bringing awareness to conservation and increasing the energy efficiencies of our buildings. For example, between 2007-2017, we reduced energy per square foot by 16%, partly by installing over 1.5 million LED lightbulbs across our resorts. The cumulative energy we’ve saved over this period is equivalent to the annual usage of more than 125,000 average U.S. homes. MGM has committed to reduce our carbon emissions per square foot by 50%.

Locally, Beau Rivage is committed to conserving natural by implementing and participating in numerous environmental initiatives, including installing four charging stations for electric vehicles; leading an annual Earth Day clean-up on Deer Island; conducting a recycling drive for Mardi Gras beads, keeping more than 600 pounds of beads out of landfills and waterways; and using single-serve coffee pods made of 100% recyclable materials that help protect our environment.

As a leader in environmental sustainability, Beau Rivage employees will be participating in the 10th annual Deer Island clean-up in conjunction with Earth Day. Throughout the clean-up program, volunteers have removed a total of 20.23 tons of trash, equivalent to the weight of a loaded charter bus.