International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) formed a partnership with The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) to offer Facility Accreditation Programme and an online course.
GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association and ICCA, the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry, will bring essential business reopening resources to ICCA members. ICCA’s members include venues, tourism bureaus, airlines, and other event-related organisations.
As part of the agreement, ICCA will promote two GBAC programmes that help facilities and cleaning professionals better prepare for, respond to, and recover from biorisk situations:
- GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation Programme, which helps public and commercial facilities of all types and sizes set and maintain a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention programme.
- GBAC Fundamentals Online Course: Cleaning & Disinfection Principles, an e-learning course for cleaning professionals that highlights infection and contamination control measures for infectious disease prevention.
“We are pleased to be working with GBAC and their GBAC STAR Accreditation Programme that will encourage and allow our members to operate safely with shared best practices around hygiene. As organisations begin to open again, it is of utmost importance that they do so by showing their commitment to cleanliness during these times. We’re glad to introduce such best practices to our members so that business events can return in the near future,” ICCA CEO, Senthil Gopinath.
GBAC STAR accreditation demonstrates that a facility follows the proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices necessary in the age of COVID-19. Facilities are encouraged to track their cleaning programme’s progress and set goals for improvement in order to renew their accreditation annually. To date, numerous convention centers, hotels, and destinations have earned or committed to earn GBAC STAR accreditation.
The GBAC Fundamentals Online Course: Cleaning & Disinfection Principles educates cleaning professionals on cleaning and disinfection, including infection and contamination control measures for infectious disease outbreak situations. Successful completion of the course results in a Certificate of Completion from GBAC and the ability to differentiate oneself as a “GBAC-Trained Technician.”
“With 1,100 ICCA member companies and organisations in nearly 100 countries, this partnership has the potential to help many facilities and cleaning professionals around the world improve their approach to cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger.
GBAC STAR™ for Venues
The GBAC STAR™ Accreditation Programme provides third-party validation that your venue meets a higher level of cleanliness and safety.
With GBAC STAR™, your venue is:
- Maintaining strict cleaning protocols for infectious disease.
- Using best practices to limit the impact of future outbreaks.
- Protecting building occupants now and in the future.
- Prepared for any recurring challenges in your workplace or facility.
With GBAC STAR™, your cleaning staff is:
- Highly informed for infectious disease response.
- Empowered to do their jobs safely and effectively.
- Trained to follow the right practices to keep themselves safe from disease.
- Bringing value to their communities and contributing to public health.
With GBAC STAR™, your customers have:
- The assurance that the venue has been disinfected to the highest standards.
- Renewed trust in building cleanliness and safety.
- Increased confidence to enter and feel comfortable inside the building.
- Peace of mind that proper cleaning is an ongoing venue management priority.
GBAC STAR™ for Meeting Planners
- Meeting planners should seek out hotels and meeting spaces that are GBAC STAR™-accredited; look for the GBAC STAR™ seal and search the growing accredited facility listings and directory (launching late August 2020) at gbac.org/star.
- More than 3,000 facilities in 66+ countries are currently seeking GBAC STAR™ accreditation for their facilities (as of August 6, 2020).
- Meeting planners should specify GBAC STAR™ accreditation in their RFPs to reinforce their priority and value of meeting participants’ health and safety.
- A growing number of DMOs have already committed to GBAC STAR™ accreditation for their areas’ transportation hubs, hotels, restaurants, public venues, and more.
GBAC STAR™ for Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs)
- Cities/destinations whose facilities have a critical mass of GBAC STAR™ accreditations will be uniquely positioned to drive confidence among leisure and business travellers that their communities are committed to clean, safe, and healthy environments both now and in the future.
- More than 3,000 facilities in 66+ countries are currently seeking GBAC STAR™ accreditation for their facilities (as of August 6, 2020).
- Meeting planners and event organisers have begun to actively seek locations with GBAC STAR™-accredited facilities to ensure their participants’ health and safety when it is safe to meet again.
- A growing number of DMOs have already committed to GBAC STAR™ accreditation for their areas’ transportation hubs, hotels, restaurants, public venues, and more.
ICCA Members can benefit from the 50% discount when signing up for GBAC Fundamentals Online Course. Use the Referral Code: ICCA20 when signing up for GBAC Fundamentals Online Course or applying for GBAC STAR™ Accreditation.
