Hornbuckle reminded the company’s employees to stay at home while the COVID-19 outbreak continues. “That’s the best thing they can do now to help limit the spread of the virus and help hasten the road to reopening the company’s 20 American properties,” he says.
“Our industry will likely change for the foreseeable future. So, the decisions we are making today are about ensuring we have the resources to not just reopen, but to operate successfully for the long term, until we recover,” Hornbuckle said.
“We’ll also be operating differently. What it means to provide good customer service will change. Everything from how often we clean to how we greet our guests could and will change. Our casino floors will look different and our restaurants will ultimately be impacted as well,” he added.
Hornbuckle took on the CEO role a month ago replacing Jim Murren, who had previously announced his resignation from MGM in February and stepped down earlier than planned in order to guide Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak’s COVID-19 task force.
While Hornbuckle noted that the company’s casinos will not look like they did when they closed in mid-March, he did not share any details about the steps the MGM will take once casinos are able to reopen.
Since shutting down its US operations more than a month ago, the company has had to furlough about 60,000 of its workers.
While the company was unable to pay workers and keep them on the books during the closure, MGM has been able to raise US$12.5 million toward a resource campaign for eligible employees. That money has come from corporate executives as well as celebrities who perform at the company’s resorts.
“Our goal is to help as many of our colleagues as we possibly can through this crisis,” Hornbuckle concluded.
Source: GMB
