People Initiatives: Sands Invests $56 Million in Workforce Development in 2022

In 2022, Sands invested $56 million in workforce development initiatives as part of its ambition to contribute $200 million in this area by 2025, a primary focus of the People pillar of its corporate responsibility program.

The company’s recently released 2022 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report outlined Sands’ accomplishments under the corporate responsibility pillars of People, Communities and Planet. In addition to workforce development, Sands is focused on four other core areas under the People pillar: diversity, equity and inclusion; health, safety and well-being; human rights; and responsible gaming and financial crime prevention.

Workforce Development

The $56 million investment in 2022 brought the company’s cumulative total to $113 million since 2021, putting Sands past the halfway point toward its 2025 goal. Programs in this area aim to expand job skills, create meaningful career opportunities and increase the earning power of Team Members, as well as advance capability and business development opportunities for suppliers and partners, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The company’s workforce development initiatives also target building a pipeline of talent in the local hospitality industry and labor pool.

“A strong workforce in our regions greatly contributes to the continued vitality and growth of our communities, the local hospitality industry and our company,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives and chairs the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council. “We are investing in creating significant support for all who work for and with our company, providing the impetus to build life-long careers and thriving businesses in the hospitality and tourism sector.”

To reach its 2025 workforce development goal, Sands implemented a robust body of work in 2022. Team Member program highlights included continuation of Sands China’s myWay secondary skills training program to foster horizontal career opportunities and Marina Bay Sands’ establishment of a joint training committee in partnership with the Attractions, Resorts & Entertainment Union (AREU) to help service workers increase skills, especially in the area of digital transformation.

To foster growth of suppliers and partners, especially local businesses, Sands China’s initiatives included its mainstay Sands Procurement Academy to help SMEs build practical business knowledge and skills, as well as introduction of Go from the Heart, a training program aimed at providing high-quality interactions with guests to assist partners affected by the pandemic slowdown in preparing for the return of business and the opening of The Londoner Macao.

Sands’ regions also invested in several initiatives to build skill sets for people interested in hospitality careers, ranging from culinary and event/stage training programs to internships and sessions with leading experts in hospitality and entertainment.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Sands is dedicated to continually advancing DEI progress and introduced a number of new initiatives in 2022, including supplemental discrimination training and the In Focus DEI Conversation Series to provide corporate Team Members with new insights and learning opportunities. Additionally, the company’s women’s and LGBTQ+ resource groups for corporate Team Members and their allies introduced new programs in the areas of mentorship and community volunteerism.

Sands also extended its commitment to diverse community organizations through a variety of Sands Cares corporate partnerships at the national and local levels in the United States with women’s, Black, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Hispanic and LGBTQ+ nonprofit organizations.

In Macao, Sands China’s 2022 DEI efforts largely focused on advancing opportunities for local businesses with comprehensive support to help SMEs, micro-enterprises, Macao young entrepreneurs and Made-in-Macao businesses be competitive in sourcing opportunities within Sands and in the Macao community.

Health, Safety and Well-Being

One of Sands’ major efforts in 2022 was obtaining certifications that uphold health and safety standards. Building on certifications received by various departments at Sands properties, Marina Bay Sands’ food and beverage department obtained certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for its occupational health and safety management system. In total, 97% of Sands Team Members are covered by an OSH management system that is ISO-certified.

Sands also worked to expand wellness programming at its properties. Sands China launched Macao’s first hybrid meeting space for clients at The Londoner Macao, while the Sands Expo and Convention Centre at Marina Bay Sands became Asia’s first facility to receive Healthy Venue Gold accreditation from the World Obesity Federation, a leading partner on obesity issues for global agencies, including the World Health Organization.

Human Rights

Sands focused on addressing salient human rights risks in the areas of discrimination and harassment and human trafficking in 2022, primarily through training. The company updated and introduced new curriculum for the annual Team Member compliance training, and both Sands China and Marina Bay Sands hosted trainings on the company’s Supplier Code of Conduct.

Responsible Gaming

In 2022, The Venetian Macao and The Londoner Macao obtained the newly developed Macau-localized Responsible Gaming Indicator accreditation, supporting Sands’ global commitment to the American Gaming Association’s Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct and complementing Marina Bay Sands’ RG Check accreditation through the Responsible Gambling Council. Sands and Sands China also provided funding to leading research organizations, including the International Center for Responsible Gaming, as well as to four local organizations in Macao

To learn more about Sands’ People pillar initiatives, including its 2025 workforce development ambition, read the 2022 ESG Report here: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/