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MGM National Harbor First Integrated Resort in Washington D.C. Region to Achieve Prestigious LEED® Gold Green Building Certification

MGM Resorts International’s ninth LEED Gold certification brings the company’s portfolio of LEED certified space to more than 20 million square feet

MGM National Harbor First Integrated Resort in Washington D.C. Region to Achieve Prestigious LEED® Gold Green Building Certification

MGM Resorts International’s ninth LEED Gold certification brings the company’s portfolio of LEED certified space to more than 20 million square feet

Published 12-02-16

Submitted by MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) today announced that the U.S. Green Building Council has awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design™ (LEED) Gold certification to MGM National Harbor, the company’s newest resort. Located minutes from Washington, D.C., in Prince George's County, Maryland, the resort will is scheduled to open Dec. 8.

The LEED Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. Meeting the rigorous environmental standards of this designation is a testament to the complete integration of sustainable principles throughout the design and construction of MGM National Harbor.

“Environmental responsibility is a commitment that extends across all levels of our organization. Achieving our ninth LEED certification exemplifies MGM’s long-standing effort to implement sustainable and responsible practices across our resorts,” said Cindy Ortega, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for MGM Resorts International. “MGM National Harbor embodies the Company’s dedication to environmental leadership in our industry.” 

The resort will incorporate a variety of environmentally minded practices and sustainability elements, making MGM National Harbor a premier eco- luxury destination.

“As we approach MGM National Harbor’s grand opening, earning this coveted designation is a meaningful source of pride for our team,” said Lorenzo Creighton, President and COO for MGM National Harbor. “It is another example of how MGM National Harbor is helping to charter a new course for sustainable growth in Maryland.”

MGM National Harbor is situated just off the banks of the Potomac River, in the Chesapeake Bay region. One priority of the MGM National Harbor team was to protect the water resources in and around the project site. MGM designed and implemented a range of innovative approaches to store, reuse and reduce consumption of water to help protect the local ecosystem.

Environmental attributes of MGM National Harbor that supported the LEED Gold rating include: 

  • Rainwater Harvesting: MGM National Harbor designed and constructed a 700,000 gallon cistern to collect, store and treat rainwater captured from the roof structures. The repurposed water will be used for the resort’s irrigation, cooling and sanitary needs and will reduce the amount of water taken from the Prince George’s County water supply. 

  • Water Conservation: High-efficiency fixtures, including automatic faucets, low-flow toilets and shower fixtures help reduce the property’s water consumption by more than 45 percent. An on-site well provides recalculated water to help further minimize water loss due to evaporation.

  • Energy Efficiency: MGM National Harbor was built with comprehensive integration of LED (light emitting diode) high-efficiency lighting technology. The use of these lighting systems not only allows for less direct lighting energy to be consumed, but also a significant reduction of cooling energy required throughout the building. 

  • Resiliency: MGM National Harbor designed and built one of the largest privately operated combined heat and power (CHP) energy plants in the Washington D.C. region. The system works to generate on-site electricity for the resort. By creating its own energy, MGM National Harbor improves reliability, minimizes energy losses in transmission and reduces demand on the local energy grid. 

  • Alternative transportation: To encourage the use of alternative transportation, MGM National Harbor has installed 28 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and 185 low-emitting-fuel efficient vehicle parking spaces. These attributes help to promote the use of alternative transportation modes for both our guests and employees.

  • Waste and Recycling: More than 96 percent, or over 15,000 tons, of construction waste was diverted from landfills during the building of MGM National Harbor.  Construction and demolition waste makes up approximately 40 percent of landfills in the United States.

Located at the intersection of I-95 and I-295 in Prince George’s County, Maryland, MGM National Harbor will encompass 308 hotel rooms, a 125,000-square-foot casino, 12 world-class food and beverage venues, a 27,000-square-foot spa, a flexible 3,000-seat theater and 18,000 square feet of high-end luxury retail space.  

About MGM National Harbor 
The newest addition to the MGM Resorts International (NYSE:MGM) portfolio, MGM National Harbor's unrivaled setting offers stunning panoramic views of the eastern shore of the Potomac River in Maryland. The $1.4 billion resort sits a short distance from Washington, D.C. to the north and historic sites, including George Washington's Mount Vernon estate across the river in Virginia. The 24-story, 308-room resort will feature premier amenities and experiences for locals as well as visitors from around the world including a dynamic casino with over 125,000 square feet of space that includes slots, table games and poker; a world-class spa and salon; an entertainment theater with flexible seating for up to 3,000; high-end branded retail; 50,000 square feet of meeting space; and restaurants from renowned local, national and international chefs. MGM National Harbor is scheduled to open December 8, 2016.   

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  MGM Resorts International has based these statements on management's current expectations and assumptions and not on historical facts. Examples of these statements include statements regarding the expected opening date of the casino resort and scope of the amenities to be offered. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking statements, including effects of economic and market conditions, competition with other destination travel locations throughout the United States and the world, and the design, timing and costs of the projects and risks relating to permits, licenses, financings, approvals and other contingencies and additional risks and uncertainties described in the MGM Resorts International Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K reports (including all amendments to those reports) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In providing forward-looking statements, MGM Resorts International 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.

U.S. Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 167,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students. Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

LEED
The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building certification system is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. Over 100,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED rating systems, comprising over 8 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community. USGBC was co-founded by current President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 15-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, influential, education and research organization in the nation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.

About MGM Resorts International
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 is in the process of developing MGM National Harbor in Maryland and MGM Springfield in Massachusetts. MGM Resorts controls, and holds a 76 percent economic interest in the operating partnership of MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE: MGP), a premier triple-net lease real estate investment trust engaged in the acquisition, ownership and leasing of large-scale destination entertainment and leisure resorts. The Company also owns 56 percent of MGM China Holdings Limited (HK: 2282), which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino and is developing a gaming resort in Cotai, and 50 percent of CityCenter in Las Vegas, which features ARIA Resort & Casino. MGM Resorts is named among FORTUNE® Magazine's 2016 list of World's Most Admired Companies®. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

MGM Resorts International logo

MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a peerless portfolio of destination resort brands, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. In addition to its 51% interest in MGM China Holdings, Limited, which owns the MGM Macau resort and casino and is in the process of developing a gaming resort in Cotai, the Company has significant holdings in gaming, hospitality and entertainment, owns and operates 15 properties located in Nevada, Mississippi and Michigan, and has 50% investments in three other properties in Nevada and Illinois. One of those investments is CityCenter, an unprecedented urban resort destination on the Las Vegas Strip featuring its centerpiece ARIA Resort & Casino. Leveraging MGM Resorts' unmatched amenities, the M life loyalty program delivers one-of-a-kind experiences, insider privileges and personalized rewards for guests at the Company's renowned properties nationwide. Through its hospitality management subsidiary, the Company holds a growing number of development and management agreements for casino and non-casino resort projects around the world.

MGM Resorts International supports responsible gaming and has implemented the American Gaming Association's Code of Conduct for Responsible Gaming at its gaming properties. The Company has been honored with numerous awards and recognitions for its industry-leading Diversity Initiative, its community philanthropy programs and the Company's commitment to sustainable development and operations. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

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