To deepen the integration of industry, education, and research, and to expand students’ systematic understanding of integrated resorts’ cross-sector integration of corporate social responsibility and culture and arts, on the afternoon of October 26, 2026, Associate Professor Esther Kou Iok Teng, Coordinator of the Master’s Programmes at our School, led a group of graduate students to MGM MACAU for an on-site visit and exchange learning. Closely aligned with the company’s sustainable development strategy and cultural tourism experience, this activity enabled students to complete a shift in perspective from classroom theory to industry practice in a real industry setting.

Associate Professor Esther Kou Iok Teng presented a commemorative gift to the MGM representative

At the corporate thematic sharing session, MGM representatives centered their presentation on the core topic of “Sustainability”， providing faculty and students with a detailed introduction to the Group’s development history, brand philosophy, and organizational structure. Drawing on practical cases, the speakers elaborated on the concrete practices of large integrated resorts in green operations, environmental protection initiatives, and the fulfillment of corporate social responsibility. Students engaged in in-depth discussions with corporate representatives on issues such as how the hotel industry can balance economic benefits with environmental protection and green supply chain management.

Students Attend the Thematic Lecture

Afterwards, the faculty and students moved to the Grande Praca, a venue rich in European charm, to take a group photo. With its distinctive Portuguese architectural style and natural lighting design, Grande Praca perfectly embodies MGM’s design philosophy of integrating artistic aesthetics into commercial spaces.

Group photo of FITM teacher and students with MGM representatives

The final stop of the itinerary was the POLY MGM MUSEUM. The museum featured the “Liuli Radiance: Zibo Liuli Art Exhibition,” which unfolded across three sections: “Origins Across Millennia,” “Enduring Radiance,” and “Exquisite Qilin Wares.” Through the staff’s professional guided tour, the students not only appreciated the exquisite artworks but also gained a deeper understanding of the cross-sector integration of “tourism + culture.” Moreover, the openness, inclusiveness, and enduring vitality embodied in liuli deeply impressed upon the students that only when tradition is seen, used, and recreated in contemporary life can it truly continue its radiance and gain new vitality through the integration of culture and tourism.

Students Listen to Staff Explanations at the POLY MGM MUSEUM

This visit not only gave the students a more intuitive understanding of the brand culture development and sustainable development initiatives of Macao’s high-end hotels, but also provided a valuable practical foundation for their research on local cultural tourism and corporate social responsibility. In the future, our School will continue to promote university-enterprise cooperation, deepen teaching and research on “tourism + culture” and “sustainable development,” create more industry-aligned practical platforms for students, and cultivate high-quality cultural tourism talents with an international perspective and a sense of social responsibility.

Student Reflections:

Huang Zihao (First-year Master's Student in International Tourism and Hospitality Management):

Thank you for arranging this visit to MGM Macau. The guide systematically introduced MGM China’s development overview and sustainable development policy, explaining the implementation approach to corporate social responsibility from multiple areas such as governance, talent, community, and environment. The exquisite colored glass and inside-painting craft exhibits in the museum allowed me to experience the beauty of traditional craftsmanship up close and to see the value of cultural tourism venues in carrying forward cultural heritage. This visit broke my previous one-dimensional perception of resort hotels and helped me understand that the cultural tourism industry not only provides service experiences but also takes sustainable development and cultural dissemination into account. These observations have also supplemented my future professional study and coursework research with real industry cases and broadened my perspective on cultural tourism.

 Zhang Yufei (First-year Master's Student in International Tourism and Hospitality Management):

Thank you for arranging this course practicum, which gave me a comprehensive understanding of MGM’s sustainable development practices. Among them, the “Sustainable Development Science and Innovation and Green Skills Education Programme” co-organized by MGM and the Science Center impressed me deeply—cultivating young people’s knowledge, abilities, and attitudes toward sustainable development and resource conservation from an early age. This “education first” philosophy is highly visionary. In daily life, resource conservation should not remain at the level of slogans but should be translated into concrete actions. Only by internalizing conservation awareness into daily habits, starting from small things and persisting, can green concepts truly take root. In addition, the glass artworks in the MGM Museum dazzled me at first sight, and their beautiful and intricate craftsmanship is truly admirable.

Zhang Lingyue(First-year Master's Student in International Tourism and Hospitality Management):

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Dr. Kou, who led this visit, and to the staff of MGM. Through this visit, I gained a deeper understanding of the hotel industry’s business philosophy and came to appreciate the importance of sustainability to the tourism and hospitality industry. What impressed me most was that MGM not only focuses on its own business development but also actively takes on environmental protection and social responsibility. Later, when visiting the MGM Museum, I experienced the unique charm of integrating arts and culture with the tourism industry, and I came to understand that hotels are not merely places that provide accommodation and entertainment services but can also serve as platforms for displaying culture and spreading art. This visit took me beyond the classroom and helped me understand professional knowledge through real cases, and it also prompted me to think more about the future diversification and sustainable development of Macao’s tourism industry.

Written By | Zhang Shuhang
Edited by | Yu Xiaoxiao
Reviewed by | Esther Kou Iok Teng
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Contact: fitminfo@cityu.edu.mo