LAS VEGAS, Nov. 21, 2013 - After a day of voting and months of negotiations, members of the Culinary and Bartenders Unions ratified a contract with MGM Resorts International. More than 97 percent of participating members voted in favor of the contract, which covers thousands of Union workers across MGM Strip properties.

MGM Resorts International becomes the first Las Vegas Strip company to reach agreement with the Culinary and Bartenders Unions. This new contract covers more than 21,000 of the Company’s employees at Aria, Bellagio, Circus Circus Las Vegas/Slots A Fun, Excalibur, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, The Mirage, Monte Carlo and New York-New York Hotel. Employee positions covered include food and beverage workers, guest room attendants, bell department, porters and many others.

Carlos Almazan, a kitchen steward at Mandalay Bay said, “This contract protects our benefits, and will help bring back jobs. It’s a good contract. I’m especially thankful to know my healthcare will be protected.”

The Union contract committee, comprised of workers from all MGM properties, has worked diligently for months, negotiating regularly with MGM management representatives to strike a mutually beneficial agreement. The previous contract expired on June 1, 2013. Terms of the new agreement are retroactive to that date.

Corey Sanders, Chief Operating Officer for MGM Resorts, said, “Both sides have crafted an agreement that, despite difficult economic times, addresses the needs of Union workers and their families as well as those of the Company. Our aim has always been to negotiate an agreement that works for everyone; one that will allow everyone to provide and to succeed. We believe that’s what the Unions and the Company have achieved here: a smart contract, one that charts our Company’s future growth with the Unions.”

The new economic package, agreed to by both sides after long negotiations, allows workers to keep their current high-quality health insurance and other important benefits. Specific changes in food and beverage terms aim to provide necessary flexibility needed to reopen closed venues and bring workers back to their jobs. Finally, new measures in housekeeping create departmental language designed to increase job safety.

“MGM has taken a leadership position in the industry, forging a strong partnership for the future of both the Company and the Unions. Ultimately, the members had to make the decision. Today, they voted to secure the opportunity to provide for their families, something every worker deserves,” said Local 226 Secretary-Treasurer Geoconda Arguello-Kline.

Mr. Sanders said, “This agreement allows MGM and the Unions to move forward together with new projects such as the new world-class arena and other amenities under development in the Company’s world-class resorts. These are the projects that will grow our local economy and lead us all to success. We commend the Union and its leaders for their continued partnership and the open, forward thinking that allowed these long discussions to come to this successful conclusion.”

Almost 4,000 Union members took part in the contract vote.

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MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. The Company also owns 51% of MGM China Holdings Limited, which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino and is in the process of developing a gaming resort in Cotai, and 50% of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features ARIA resort and casino.  For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements involving risks and/or uncertainties, including those described in the Company's public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Company has based forward-looking statements on management’s current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the success of new projects and the execution of the new contract. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements include effects of economic conditions and market conditions in the markets in which the Company operates and competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, the design, timing and costs of expansion projects, risks relating to international operations, permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies in connection with growth in new or existing jurisdictions and additional risks and uncertainties described in the Company’s Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports).  In providing forward-looking statements, the Company is not undertaking any duty or obligation to update these statements publicly as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE: MGM Resorts International