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This Just In

Anaheim Convention Center Earns GBAC STAR Accreditation

KATHY MONTE, SENIOR EDITOR

ANAHEIM – The Anaheim Convention Center earns GBAC STAR™ accreditation from the Global BioRisk Advisory Council (GBAC).

As COVID-19 continues to challenge tradeshow and event planners, this new certificate program could help the industry rebound as it offers customers a new, standardized layer of assurance.

Related. Combating COVID at Trade Show and Event Facilities with ISSA’s GBAC STAR Program

“This is an important step in the eventual, safe and responsible reopening of the Anaheim Convention Center,” Tom Morton, Executive Director of Convention, Sports and Entertainment for the City of Anaheim, said. “Event organizers and attendees can have confidence that our facility meets the highest standards of cleaning, disinfection, and prevention. This accreditation is one part of a larger, comprehensive plan that will guide the Anaheim Convention Center in safely resuming meetings, conferences, and conventions when the time is right.”

GBAC is a division of the worldwide cleaning industry association ISSA and is comprised of international leaders in the fields of biorisk management, microbiology, infection, and contamination control. Bringing together the scientific, decontamination, cleaning, and restoration communities, GBAC provides training to organizations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from biological threats.

A convention center that has GBAC STAR™ Accreditation instills a sense of confidence, explains Christina Piedlow, President and CEO, TPG Tradeshow & Event Marketing. She said her company has three trade shows on the books to be held in facilities without this certification. “That means we are going to have to be more diligent and on our toes, checking in with show management to make sure all rules are being followed,” Piedlow said. “On the other hand, when a facility has received STAR Accreditation, we know all staff and key stakeholders are aware of how to keep things clean and safe.”

Related. Cleaning for COVID and Other Infectious Diseases

GBAC says it is the industry’s only accreditation for outbreak prevention, response, and recovery, establishing requirements to control risks associated with infectious agents, such as the virus that causes COVID-19. Companies that include Hyatt Hotels Corp., McCormick Place, the Las Vegas Convention Center, United Service Companies (TSE’s parent company), Orange County Convention Center and many more have already registered for GBAC STAR accreditation.

  • In pursuit of the GBAC STAR accreditation, the Anaheim Convention Center completed 20 unique program elements, and the facility has:
    Established and maintained a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks associated with infectious agents like the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2).
  • The proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices in place to combat biohazards and infectious disease.
  • Highly skilled cleaning professionals who are trained for outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response.

GBAC teaches a specific response protocol where detailed information is gathered to assist in determining what equipment, PPE, cleaning, and disinfection solutions a facility will need. One current online GBAC Fundamentals Class on Microbial Warrior Training is focused on SARS-COV-2 / COVID 19, training frontline workers how to apply lessons learned to other situations, such as the flu.
You can find a copy of this site risk assessment here at the ISSA Coronavirus web page.

“As we prepare to host future events at the largest convention center facility on the West Coast, the work to safely reopen continues,” Jay Burress, president & CEO, Visit Anaheim said. “Our team along with the convention center are not only ready for the day we are able to safely reopen by taking proactive steps like securing the GBAC STAR, we are also preparing for future years by continuing to sell and book events in our city as far out as 2028.”

To learn more about Visit Anaheim’s efforts to ensure the city recovers quickly and is best positioned to restore hotel stays, meetings, and conventions in Anaheim, go to http://visitanaheim.org/response-and-recovery.

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