The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, is partnering with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the global community and knowledge hub for the international association meetings industry, to 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.
ICCA members are encouraged to visit the ICCA website to learn more about the programs and their benefits for each segment of the events industry. When applying for GBAC STAR or enrolling in the GBAC Fundamentals Online Course, ICCA members should use referral code ICCA20.
