Sands China Marks a Decade of SME Support with Supplier Excellence Awards Gala

Sands China celebrated a major milestone as it marked 10 years of supporting Macau’s small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through its flagship F.I.T. initiative, culminating in a Supplier Excellence Awards gala that showcased the company’s long-term commitment to strengthening the local business ecosystem. Over the past decade, Sands China has consistently prioritised local procurement, expanding opportunities for Macau-based suppliers and helping them integrate into the broader hospitality and entertainment supply chain across its integrated resorts.

This year’s gala placed a strong emphasis on recognising excellence across multiple dimensions of supplier performance — from innovation and project management to sustainability and service delivery. Sands China executives highlighted that the achievements of local suppliers reflect the company’s ongoing efforts to cultivate capability-building, promote industry best practices, and encourage local businesses to grow alongside Macau’s evolving tourism and entertainment landscape. Analysts note that these initiatives align with the city’s economic diversification goals and expectations placed upon concessionaires to contribute to long-term non-gaming development.

A key highlight of the event was the announcement of seven award winners, each representing a specific area of operational excellence and contribution to Sands China’s supply chain:

• Corporate Culture & Sustainability: China Travel Service (Macao) Ltd

• Innovation: Tech (Macau) Limited

• Cost Management: Companhia de Obras de Decorações Wai Yun Lda.

• Quality Management: Anglo-East Trading Co. (HK) Limited

• Project Management: Vodatel Holdings Ltd

• Service Excellence: Express Marine Electronics Company Limited

• Small/Medium Enterprise (SME): Hight Tea International Development Company Limited

These awardees were recognised not only for meeting operational expectations but also for demonstrating forward-looking strategies and business agility — qualities that Sands China believes are essential for Macau’s next stage of growth. Some of the winners, particularly SMEs, have broadened their service offerings or expanded their operational scale over the years, reflecting the multiplier effect of sustained corporate–supplier partnerships.

Beyond the awards framework, Sands China’s SME support has matured into a holistic ecosystem involving mentoring, technical workshops, and capability enhancement programmes. These efforts help local enterprises elevate their competitiveness in areas such as digital transformation, compliance, sustainability, and product differentiation. Such investments indicate a strategic shift among Macau operators toward strengthening local industry resilience, especially as the economy pivots to non-gaming attractions, MICE development, and diversified entertainment experiences.

Looking ahead, Sands China reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing supplier collaboration and promoting innovation-driven growth among SMEs. With Macau’s tourism sector rebounding and non-gaming development accelerating, the operator emphasised that nurturing a strong local supply chain will continue to be central to its procurement and community engagement strategy. Industry observers expect that this model of operator-led ecosystem development will become increasingly important as Macau seeks greater economic stability and broader commercial participation.