Integrated resort (IR) operator Sands China hosted its Sands China Academy Achievements and Roadmap Presentation yesterday at The Londoner Macao in Cotai, which saw the presentation of certificates to 54 trainees graduating from the academy’s sub academies, of which 12 were also awarded for their exceptional performance.
The Sands China Academy, the company’s talent development platform established in 2015, features eight specialised sub academies that cover MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions), hospitality, IR management, entertainment, facilities, responsible gaming, procurement, and retail, according to information provided by Sands China yesterday. Its programmes have drawn over 3,600 participants, of which more than 3,300 have graduated.
The event was held to showcase the company’s successes in nurturing young talent over the past year and also featured students’ discussions and videos.
In his speech yesterday, Sands China Executive Vice Chairman Wilfred Wong Ying-wai said: “For over two decades, Sands China has been devoted to cultivating talent. We have invested deeply in local talent development and fully support the Macau government’s policy of ‘Building Macau through Talent Training’”.
Moreover, a launch ceremony for the “Sands China Integrated Resort Leader Development Programme” was held at yesterday’s event, with a professional curriculum set to be created by the programme in collaboration with Cornell University in New York and talent assessment service provider SHL.
Sands China Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Grant Chum Kwan Lock said during his speech that the programme is tailor-made for middle and senior management staff and aims to “enhance their forward thinking and strategic decision-making skills through international exchanges and the introduction of advanced management models from around the world.”
Chum also noted in his speech that the Sands China Academy has, over the past five years, partnered with local organisations to “launch numerous training programmes, delivering 1,500 professionals to the industry”. He added that the company’s continuous refining of efforts to cultivate management talent has resulted in over 23,300 promotional opportunities for staff, increasing the ratio of Macau locals in management positions to 90 percent.
Graduates pose with guests yesterday during the Sands China Academy Achievements and Roadmap Presentation at The Londoner Macao in Cotai. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
