Global facilities commit to accreditation programme

This accreditation establishes requirements to assist facilities with work practices, protocols, procedures, and systems to control risks associated with infectious agents, such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The programme was launched by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.

Among the recently committed facilities are:

• Ashford Castle and the Lodge at Ashford Castle in the United Kingdom, part of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection
• The Shilla Hotel, South Korea, a Samsung Group affiliate
• Wings Hotel – Rotterdam the Hague Airport, the Netherlands
• Leading Hotels of the World locations such as Katikies properties across Greece; The Legian Seminyak in Bali; Armancette Hotel Chalets & Spa in France; Villa Kennedy, a Rocco Forte Hotel in Germany; The Lodhi New Delhi in India; the Grande Albergo Excelsior Vittoria Spa in Italy; Hotel Metropole in Monaco; De L’Europe Hotel in the Netherlands, and more.

In sports:  

• Centerplate at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, home to the Spanish football club Atlético Madrid
• The Staples Centre and Los Angeles Clippers NBA basketball team training facility in the USA.

Convention centres such as:

• Expo World Trade Centre in Mexico City
• Toronto Congress Centre in Canada
• Orange County Convention Centre in Florida, USA
• New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Centre, USA
• San Diego Convention Center, USA.
• Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, USA.

ISSA members also accrediting their own offices include:

• Capital Cleaning Services in the United Kingdom
• FVH Facility Groep B.V. in the Netherlands
• Farnek Services LLC in the United Arab Emirates.

“We’re absolutely thrilled with the international response that the GBAC STAR programme has received,” said GBAC executive director, Patricia Olinger. “With more and more organisations committing to follow the GBAC STAR framework, we can create a world that values cleanliness and implements it to the highest degree.”

GBAC STAR is designed for any size facility—including schools, offices, hotels, convention centres, airports, assisted care facilities, stadiums, and other public venues—to establish a comprehensive system of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention.

Tourism bureaus and cities also are starting to join the programme to get multiple businesses in their community GBAC STAR accredited to provide stronger assurance to residents and visitors. Discover the Palm Beaches, in Palm Beach, Florida, USA; Experience Columbus in Columbus, Ohio, USA; Visit Dallas in Dallas, Texas, USA; and Visit Baltimore in Baltimore, Maryland, USA have committed to pursuing accreditation across multiple facility sectors within their destinations, such as airports, convention centres, hotels, cultural institutions, professional sport parks and stadiums. 

The most recent global industry organisations endorsing GBAC STAR include:

• The Infection Prevention Strategy (TIPS), a non-profit that extends to more than 30 countries and advances innovations, ideas and processes in global health
• Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and its more than 195 members that produce over 3,500 events globally
• Freeman + Go LIVE Together, a coalition of leaders from the live events industry that represent more than 4,000 companies with U.S. operations and 112 other countries

Additional international industry groups that previously announced their support of GBAC STAR with their constituents include

• International Facility Management Association (23,000 members)
• Informa Markets (500 brands and exhibitions)
• International Association of Exhibitions and Events (12,000 members)
• International Association of Venue Managers (7,000 members)
• Global Market Development Centre (400+ retail members).

The industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR helps organisations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training and assesses a facility’s preparedness for biorisk situations. The programme ensures facilities use best practices to limit future outbreaks, empowers cleaning staff to do their jobs safety and effectively and gives customers greater peace of mind. 

“Now is the time for businesses of every size to be transparent about the measures they’re taking to protect customers and employees, including proper cleaning and disinfection,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “GBAC STAR programme participants demonstrate their commitment to going the extra mile by implementing prevention and response best practices that support health and safety.”

For accreditation criteria and facility applications, visit www.gbac.org. To learn more, watch GBAC’s video at https://youtu.be/acrCdc-7pI0.