LAS VEGAS—For the ninth year, Black Enterprise (BE) magazine has named MGM Resorts International one of the “Best Companies for Diversity” in the United States based on its diversity and inclusion practices. MGM Resorts is the only company in the integrated resort industry, and the only company based in Nevada, to be named to the magazine’s list.
The 40 companies featured in the publication’s special report demonstrate a commitment to diversity in one or more of four key areas, including: Board of Directors mix, employee diversity, senior management mix and supplier diversity. Of those 40 companies, MGM Resorts was among the few that demonstrated significant strengths in the four areas surveyed, according to BE.
“At MGM Resorts, we recognize diversity as the central paradigm of our 21st century global economy and inclusion therefore as a business imperative,” said Phyllis A. James, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for MGM Resorts International. “We have made inclusion an anchor of our culture and our operations in order to leverage our broad diversity as a vital part of our long-term competitive strength.”
Elite Group of Companies Honored
This year’s Best Companies for Diversity honorees were recognized at the Executive Leadership Council’s 2015 Recognition Gala on Thursday, October 8 at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. Among the other well-known companies named to the “40 Best” list are: IBM Corp., American Express Co., Aflac Inc., The Coca Cola Co. and Allstate Corp.
In compiling this year’s list, the BE research team sent surveys to more than 1,000 of the largest publicly traded companies and global companies with significant U.S. operations. The questionnaire focused on activities related to the participation of African Americans and members of other defined ethnic minority groups in the culture and business of participating companies. The complete report, including methodology and selection criteria, is available in the September 2015 issue of BE.
In 2000, MGM Resorts became the gaming industry’s first company to implement a diversity initiative. Some of the program’s highlights include:
• Management ranks among MGM Resorts’ 62,000 employees include about 42 percent women, and 38 percent minorities.
• MGM Resorts advanced its efforts in supplier and construction diversity in 2014 by spending $189.5 million with diverse-owned suppliers, contractors and service providers.
• In 2014, MGM Resorts earned top accolades for its diversity best practices from national benchmarks, including: DiversityInc Magazine, Human Resources Officers Today, Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility.
For more information about MGM Resorts International’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, click here.
