GBAC STAR accreditation is a significant achievement for facilities. GBAC STAR facilities demonstrate their commitment to supporting a high-performance cleaning and maintenance program to maintain a hygienic indoor environment. Accredited facilities have knowledgeable cleaning professionals who are trained to uphold the highest standards of health and safety.
Managed by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a division of ISSA, GBAC STAR helps facilities apply the science of clean to benefit the health, well-being, and performance of building occupants. Accreditation is not about passing or failing, but about helping a facility focus on improving performance through data-driven cleaning. Facilities can measure their performance by analyzing their cleaning activities and the outcomes of these tasks.
The GBAC STAR model for improvement uses the Plan-Do-Check-Act methodology, which tests the results of cleaning process changes. Accreditation guiding principles start with three
basic questions for each facility:
- What are you trying to accomplish?
- How will you know that a change is an improvement?
- What change can you make that will result in improvement?
Enhancing the safety of sports fans
Owners and managers of GBAC STAR-accredited athletic stadiums confirmed the benefits of the accreditation.
“We are committed to being a force for good,” said Mike Alperstein, general manager of BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, home of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club and National
Women’s Soccer League’s Angel City Football Club. “And recognizing the emphasis that’s being placed on health and safety in today’s climate, we found that it was our responsibility to deliver industry-leading protocols, specifically as it relates to all staff and guests entering our building. We felt that GBAC STAR was imperative for us to go after to provide that level of comfort.”
Joe Levy, assistant general manager of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, home to the NBA’s Brooklyn Nets and the WNBA’s New York Liberty, stated that the stadium had “a desire to maintain the highest standard of health and hygiene by implementing best practices to keep our facility prepared for bio-risk threats through staff training, creating a dedicated safety committee, and staying up to date with innovative cleaning methods.”
For American Family Field in Wisconsin, home of the Milwaukee Brewers, the accreditation ensures fan safety and comfort by implementing thorough cleaning and disinfection protocols.
“The accreditation process aids in developing habits of risk assessment, documentation, and proper training, benefiting long-term safety and operational efficiency,” said Steve Ethier, senior
vice president of stadium operations.
Boosting traveler confidence
Airports are another busy facility that benefit from the GBAC STAR accreditation. “The high-traffic nature of airports necessitates stringent and strategically planned cleaning protocols, especially in restrooms and gate areas, to maintain cleanliness and safety,” explained Angela Dominczyk, process and compliance coordinator of terminal operations at Detroit
Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW).
“The accreditation process led to improvements and updated our standard operating procedures (SOPs). These improvements have ensured consistent processes and protocols across the
airport’s two terminals, which span a combined 1.35 million square feet of public space, enhancing overall health and safety standards for both passengers and employees.”
Hotels especially rely on visitor confidence to stay in business. “We wanted to be able to demonstrate to our stakeholders—our guests, our employees, our partners—that we had best-in-class sanitation and cleanliness programs in place,” said Sean Clancy, general manager of the Sheraton San Diego Hotel and Marina, which engaged in the GBAC STAR program during a
pandemic-induced closure. “We liked the rigor of the GBAC STAR program. Cleanliness is the new luxury in hospitality.”
Clancy emphasized that “the accreditation has increased trust among guests and employees. The rigorous process, including risk assessments and inventory checks, ensures first-class cleanliness
throughout the property.”
According to Janine Chicourrat, managing director of the Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey, California, “the [GBAC STAR] accreditation process highlighted the importance of consistent cleaning protocols and provided ongoing value beyond the pandemic. The accreditation has been seen as a permanent improvement in operations, ensuring long-term safety and cleanliness.”
Providing ongoing support
United Service Companies, a facility services company based in Chicago, pursued GBAC STAR Service Accreditation to ensure credibility and safety through independent third-party validation.
“Continuous training is crucial for maintaining standards, with a shift toward air purification while retaining the importance of surface cleaning and electrostatic spraying,” said Rick Simon, company president and CEO. “The accreditation provides ongoing support and real-time information to adapt to new infectious disease threats.”
As a result of GBAC training, real estate firms such as Coretrust Capital Partners LLC, based in Los Angeles, have “implemented various measures such as touchless systems, ultraviolet C (UVC)
germicidal lamps, upgraded [minimum efficiency reporting value] MERV filters, and air purification to ensure a safe environment for tenants,” said Tom Ricci, the firm’s principal and founding partner. “The accreditation process involved an infection prevention audit and compliance with [U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] CDC and [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] OSHA guidelines, aiming to create sustainable and healthy environments.”
At the Garlands of Barrington in Illinois, a resort-like retirement community, the GBAC STAR accreditation validated the community’s proactive safety measures during the pandemic
and guided further improvements.
“The accreditation helped unify the organization, boosting confidence among residents, staff, and prospective clients,” said Nancy McCaffrey, the community’s director of hospitality. “The process resulted in comprehensive training programs and increased communication about potential risks, fostering a safer community environment.”
Driving knowledge to reinforce cleanliness
Leaders at CCS Facility Services, the first GBAC STAR service-accredited company, highlighted the importance of employee engagement and continuous improvement.
“The accreditation drives knowledge and best practices to frontline staff, emphasizing the importance of employee engagement and validation of their roles,” said Troy Coker, CEO. “We intend to renew GBAC STAR annually because it validates that CCS truly has the knowledge to help a facility clean for health and it has given our employees another thing to be proud of.”
Convention centers like the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, have seen significant benefits from the GBAC STAR accreditation.
“The accreditation process highlighted the importance of using [U.S. Environmental Protection Agency] EPA-approved cleaning chemicals and helped enhance existing sanitation procedures,” said Mark Tester, the center’s executive director. “The validation provided by the accreditation boosts confidence among attendees and staff, ensuring high standards of cleanliness and safety.”
For the Halifax Convention Centre in Nova Scotia, Canada, “achieving the GBAC STAR accreditation positions the Centre to focus on its core mission of hosting events,” said Genaya Cameron, senior director of event operations. “The accreditation process took about five months and demonstrates the Centre’s commitment to safety.”
The Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, joined the GBAC STAR accreditation program to set industry-wide safety standards.
“The accreditation ensures the safety of visitors and staff, emphasizing the need for such measures in the future of convention facilities,” said Bart Allen, assistant general manager of the convention center. “The process improved training and the implementation of cleaning protocols.”
Achieving worldwide benefits
The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children’s Hospital is the first hospital in the world and the first facility in Fiji to be accredited with GBAC STAR. Hospital director Dr. Krupali Tappoo said she
was “thrilled to receive news that we successfully demonstrated compliance with the program’s elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to
personal protective equipment, emergency preparedness, and response measures.”
Your building can join the facilities worldwide that have achieved GBAC STAR accreditation. Whether you provide cleaning and maintenance for an airport, hotel, convention center, stadium, or real estate property, achieving this accreditation demonstrates your facility’s commitment to maintaining a safe and healthy environment. Learn more at gbac.issa.com.
