Each year, EXHIBITOR Magazine recognizes top-performing convention centers through its prestigious Centers of Excellence program. The 2026 honorees—25 convention centers across North America—represent the best in exhibitor experience, operational performance, innovation, and service delivery. Excellence in today’s meetings and events industry is no longer defined solely by square footage, loading docks, or Wi-Fi bandwidth. In a post-pandemic world shaped by heightened health awareness, sustainability expectations, and workforce safety concerns, the definition of “best-in-class” has fundamentally changed. Increasingly, excellence is measured by how well facilities protect people and support public health. This shift is clearly reflected in the 2026 Centers of Excellence honorees, among which 10 (40%) are GBAC STAR™ accredited and 14 (56%) are LEED certified. Seven facilities among the 25 hold both GBAC STAR and LEED certification: Baird Center, Milwaukee Charlotte Convention Center, Charlotte, North Carolina Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, Ohio Hawaii Convention Center, Honolulu McCormick Place, Chicago Seattle Convention Center, Seattle Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C. Creating new venue baselines Trade shows and large events bring people from all over the world together. The convention centers where they gather are complex ecosystems where indoor air quality, surface hygiene, waste management, chemical selection, and cleaning protocols intersect. Before they book venues, event organizers are asking new questions: How is cleaning verified and standardized? What protocols are in place to prevent the spread of infectious diseases? How does the building support healthy indoor environments? What sustainability outcomes can be measured and not just claimed? The convention centers recognized in the 2026 Centers of Excellence program demonstrate that leading venues are responding to these questions by aligning operations with recognized third-party standards, including GBAC STAR Accreditation and the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Cleaning to protect health The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a division of ISSA, The Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, established GBAC STAR accreditation to help facilities implement the highest level of cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention practices. GBAC STAR is not a marketing label—it is a performance-based accreditation grounded in science, training, documentation, and continuous improvement. Facilities seeking GBAC STAR accreditation must demonstrate: Evidence-based cleaning and disinfection protocols Formal bio-risk management programs Appropriate chemical selection and use Worker training and competency verification Emergency response and outbreak preparedness Ongoing auditing and program review For convention centers, this translates into predictable, transparent, and defensible cleaning operations. GBAC STAR accreditation shows a strong commitment to structured infection prevention and cleaning for health. Accredited venues recognize that cleaning is not simply about appearance. It is about risk reduction, workforce protection, and occupant safety and confidence. Cleaning as essential infrastructure As the global voice of the cleaning industry, ISSA plays a central role in elevating cleaning from a custodial function to a recognized public health service. Through GBAC, professional training programs, standards engagement, and evidence-based guidance, ISSA supports facilities across the built environment in implementing Cleaning for Health™ principles. This approach emphasizes: Risk-based cleaning strategies Safer chemistry and responsible product selection Measurable outcomes instead of visual inspection alone Worker health, safety, and professionalization Alignment between facility management, sustainability, and health goals The Centers of Excellence honorees illustrate how convention centers are operationalizing these principles by embedding cleaning into broader environmental, social, and governance (ESG) frameworks rather than treating it as a back-of-house activity. Designed to support health While GBAC STAR focuses on operational health protection, LEED addresses how buildings are designed, renovated, and operated to support environmental and human health outcomes. LEED-certified buildings demonstrate performance in: Indoor environmental quality Ventilation and airflow effectiveness Energy efficiency and emissions reduction Water conservation Waste diversion and recycling Responsible materials selection LEED certification provides planners and exhibitors with verifiable sustainability data, helping organizations meet corporate sustainability commitments while selecting venues aligned with their ESG goals. Selecting a convention location For event professionals, selecting a venue is no longer just a logistical decision; it is a risk management decision. Venues aligned with GBAC STAR™ and LEED provide: Evidence-based cleaning and bio-risk, management Reduced reputational and operational risk Integration of cleaning, sustainability, and health into core operations Alignment with corporate sustainability reporting In competitive event markets, these factors increasingly influence attendance, exhibitor retention, and long-term brand reputation. Venues investing in health and sustainability are also investing in business resilience and long-term relevance. Envisioning the future The Centers of Excellence convention centers are not simply hosting successful trade shows. They are redefining responsible venue management. By investing in GBAC STAR accreditation, LEED certification, and ISSA-aligned best practices, these venues demonstrate leadership that extends beyond the event floor by committing to healthy indoor environments supported by science.
CMM spoke with Gregory Gardner, director of environmental services (EVS) at a Georgia hospital, about the critical role of EVS staff in preventing the spread of infectious pathogens in healthcare facilities. How long have you been working in EVS? Gregory Gardner: I have worked in environmental services for 15 years. I am currently the director of EVS at Memorial Hospital and Manor in Bainbridge, Georgia. Which infectious diseases does your facility contend with the most this time of year? Gardner: We see a lot of cases of norovirus, flu, and COVID-19 in the winter. Which infections/pathogens are your facility most concerned about? Why? Gardner: We are most concerned about the spread of C. diff, COVID-19, and the flu. Patients and visitors have numerous opportunities to spend time in common areas within the hospital, and that opens up the possibility of cross-contamination. What cleaning protocols do your EVS teams follow to help prevent the spread of infectious diseases? Gardner: Our daily cleaning protocols in patient rooms and public areas include wiping down high-touch surfaces, as well as surfaces closest to the patient. We clean waiting-room furniture, public restrooms, and high-traffic spaces multiple times each day. In addition, we perform blitz cleaning in various common areas of the hospital and manor, including sweeping; mopping; wiping down tables, chairs, walls, and vents; and dusting high surfaces. Then we perform audits to ensure rooms are cleaned correctly and thoroughly and that soap and sanitizer dispensers remain stocked. What is your facility’s top challenge regarding infection prevention? Gardner: We have a problem with family members of patients who don’t follow instructions for infection control precautions. They do not feel that these precautions should apply to them and don’t understand the impact of not following the processes. What are your biggest staff challenges? Gardner: It is important that the EVS team perform its tasks consistently, focusing on safety and using personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly. To accomplish this, PPE requirements must be in effect, including when patients leave the hospital or transfer to another facility. Staff must educate family members and visitors on the importance of PPE and enforce its use. What are the most common misconceptions about infection prevention? Gardner: Many people mistakenly believe their actions don’t affect infection prevention. In reality, the actions of everyone in the building affect infection prevention. For example, hand hygiene is essential, along with keeping each individual’s environment clean. Infection control is not just housekeeping’s job.
Technology is taking an old problem—the transmission of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)—and looking at new ways to prevent it. Crothall Healthcare, which provides support services and environmental services (EVS) to hospitals and other healthcare facilities, is one of the organizations implementing automated and smart technology to help stop the transmission of HAIs. In 2019, Crothall Healthcare began a partnership with the American Nursing Association in its quest to reduce the instances of C. diff and other HAIs in the facilities it serves. “The association brought a wealth of knowledge on how to best partner with clinical teams on combating healthcare-associated infections,” said Sophia McCrae, vice president of operational strategy at Crothall Healthcare. “It truly takes a team to minimize the spread of HAIs.” The partnership increased the number of accounts that utilize a hygiene monitoring program using radio-frequency identification (RFID) to track whether healthcare employees wash their hands properly. Washing until the green light For example, a New York hospital, partnering with Crothall, installed RFID sensors on sinks, hand sanitizer dispensers, and soap dispensers, which healthcare employees use before treating patients or cleaning patient rooms. This technology communicates with sensors on staff badges to signal how long the employees are washing their hands. “It’s a hospital-wide initiative; every department is monitored, not just environmental services, to create a culture that prioritizes hygiene,” McCrae said. When employees approach an RFID-equipped sink or dispenser, they see a yellow light to remind them to wash. If they don’t wash long enough to remove germs, a red light flashes. The light remains red until they are compliant; then it flashes green. “Green is clean, bright yellow is a reminder, bright red means stop and rewash your hands,” McCrae explained. Employee noncompliance is reported to a supervisor. However, the system is not solely punitive; it also provides data on compliant employees. “This allows us to recognize and reward compliance,” McCrae said. Since the RFID system was installed in 2021, the hospital has seen higher hand hygiene compliance and experienced increased patient satisfaction regarding hospital hygiene. “Accounts that utilize this system are above the 75th percentile for patient satisfaction, based on surveys,” McCrae said. “When patients see hospital staff washing their hands during interactions, this improves their perception of cleanliness and increases their confidence in safety protocols.” Revealing invisible C. diff spores In addition to improving hand hygiene, technology is tackling challenges in surface hygiene, including detecting when a surface is contaminated with invisible pathogens. “In environmental services, we aim to find the dirt and clean the dirt; find the dust and get rid of it,” McCrae said. “But what happens when you don’t really know what is living on a surface because you can’t see it?” Crothall joined forces with an organization that created a microbiological visualization tool that reveals the presence of C. diff with a unique patented spray. Cleaning staff spray down a surface and wait three to five minutes. Then, using ultraviolet lights and goggles, they can see the illuminated C. diff spores. Historically, Crothall EVS teams have concentrated on disinfecting specific high-touch patient room areas such as bedrails and over-the-bed tables. After testing multiple surfaces with the spray, they have added adenosine triphosphate (ATP) swab testing to additional high-touch areas, such as shower fixtures and glove boxes. EVS crews learn how to use the spore visualization spray in simulation labs. New hires are trained to use it as part of their onboarding. “We are exploring it in about 20 of our accounts today, and we are participating in research with an academic medical center,” McCrae said. “We are seeing significant research outcomes, both quantitative and qualitative.” Automating UVC disinfection Ultraviolet (UVC) light disinfection is not a new technology. However, the most modern units now feature artificial intelligence- (AI) powered automation. Crothall-serviced facilities formerly used AI disinfection units that EVS workers needed to move around a room manually. Now they use fully autonomous UVC systems that are mounted in the corner of the room. “You can tell the system which surfaces to disinfect, and when nobody is in the room, it will automatically turn on,” McCrae said. “It knows which surfaces to attack and the exact height of these surfaces. We can pre-set it to sporicidal mode, and if C. diff is present, it will intentionally target the spores.” McCrae said the automated UVC disinfection system has resulted in a 3-log reduction in C. diff spore counts in facilities that use that system. Enhancing manual cleaning Technical advancements like AI-automated UVC disinfecting systems will not replace the importance of manual cleaning and the need for EVS staff to perform that cleaning. However, they can add an extra level of disinfection that lowers the risk of contracting an HAI. “The technology has resulted in a significant reduction in bioburden,” McCrae said. Spore visualization sprays and other advancements also provide a roadmap that guides EVS teams to the surfaces most in need of attention, so they can distribute their time and effort more effectively. “In cleaning, we always talk about turnaround times and benchmarks,” McCrae said. “Cleaning and disinfection technology helps us understand how much time we are spending on each surface and whether we are spending too much time in one area and not enough time in another.”
What has the cleaning industry learned as it transitioned from the first pandemic year to the second? In this episode of BioTalk, a GBACtv production, learn the details about what went well and what didn't in 2021, and what we as an industry need to know right now. Infection prevention experts Patty Olinger, the executive director of the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, and Dr. Paul Meechan, the former head of safety with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and who now serves on the GBAC scientific advisory board, discuss these topics with ISSA Media Director Jeff Cross. This webcast also digs into the science and the layered support when it comes to cleaning, disinfection, and air purification, and how the omicron variant shouldn’t be considered just another type of “cold”. Olinger and Meechan also discuss the possibility of the end of the pandemic. This webcast is brought to you by our sponsor Breezy.
Wildfires, intensified by climate change, played a major role in degrading global air quality in 2025. IQAir released its 8th annual World Air Quality Report, offering a comprehensive analysis of global air pollution data from 2025 and highlighting persistent health risks. For this year’s report, IQAir analyzed data from monitoring stations across 9,446 cities in 143 countries, regions, and territories. Comparing this year’s report to the previous year, 54 countries experienced increases in annual average particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), 75 saw declines, two remained unchanged, and 12 were newly represented in this year’s dataset. PM2.5 refers to fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller, that can cause serious health problems when they are inhaled. In 2025, 130 out of 143 countries/territories (91%) exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual average PM2.5 guideline value. The world’s 25 most polluted cities were all located in India, Pakistan, and China, with India home to three of the four most polluted. Only 14% of the world’s cities met the WHO standard in 2025, down from 17% a year earlier, with Canadian wildfires driving up PM2.5 across the United States and as far as Europe. Canada was the most polluted country in Northern America for just the second time in this report’s eight-year history, as its second-worst wildfire season on record affected air quality across Canada, the U.S., and parts of Europe. In the United States, annual average PM2.5 levels increased to 7.3 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Smoke from wildfires in both Canada and the U.S. raised averages across parts of the Great Lakes states in the summer and in the Pacific Northwest in the fall. The most polluted major U.S. city was El Paso, Texas. Historic dust storms triggered a 46% increase in PM2.5 levels to 11.4 µg/m³ as the city recorded the highest number of major pre-summer dust storms since the 1930s. The Southeast Los Angeles region (Cudahy, East Los Angeles, Huntington Park), heavily impacted by wildland-urban interface fires, ranked as the most polluted area in the country. Seattle remained the cleanest major U.S. city for the second consecutive year, with an annual average of 4.5 µg/m³. Only thirteen countries/territories met the WHO annual average PM2.5 guideline: French Polynesia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, New Caledonia, Iceland, Bermuda, Réunion, Andorra, Australia, Grenada, Panama, and Estonia.
Facility managers who participated in CMM’s 2026 In-House/Facility Management Benchmarking Survey highlighted training as their biggest staff consideration. Among survey respondents, 36% chose employee training as their top staff concern, followed by employee health and safety (29%), employee retention (21%), and proper use of products (14%). Fittingly, training and certification opportunities are the No. 1 perk that survey participants offer their employees to inspire staff motivation and retention, chosen by 53%. This perk is followed in popularity by nonmonetary incentives such as gifts, meals, and awards (43%); mentoring opportunities (39%); and monetary incentives such as bonuses and cash prizes (24%). CMM’s latest facility management survey took a deep dive into human resource topics, with survey respondents reporting that the average tenure of their employees is between four to seven years and eight to ten years. (Both options were chosen by 29% of survey participants.) Most of the survey participants (25%) supervise 100 or more employees. The most common hourly wage for entry-level custodial employees is between US$17 and $19.99, reported by $31% of respondents. Interestingly, that salary rate was also the most common for employees with one year or more or experience (reported by 28% of survey participants), followed by $20 to $22.99 (21%). Paid holidays are the most commonly provided employee benefit, offered by 92% of survey respondents, followed by health insurance (91%), paid sick leave (90%), paid vacation days (89%), retirement plants (87%), and dental insurance (86%). Learn more details about staffing at the facilities managed by CMM’s survey participants to determine how your facility’s employee benefits compare. Access the complete CMM 2026 In-House/Facility Management Benchmarking Survey.
In honor of National Pest Management Month, Yelp revealed its annual Infestation Index, spotlighting the top 20 cities searching for pest control services this season and the outdoor insects creating demand. Year over year, Yelp searches for pest control increased by 34%. The data highlights major metropolitan areas actively seeking pest management. While coastal cities dominate, every region is represented. Los Angeles and San Francisco lead the nation in pest control searches, reflecting unique West Coast challenges. The Golden State’s mild winters and dense urban environments create year-round conditions for pests to thrive, while spring warmth accelerates breeding cycles and demand for professional services. On the East Coast, New York lands at No. 3, and Washington, D.C., which previously ranked No. 1 in Yelp’s inaugural Infestation Index for roach, mosquito, and bed bug searches, remains a top metro at No. 7. Texas also ranks highly, with Dallas and Houston both in the top eight. Pacific Northwest cities like Seattle and Portland are also represented, reflecting how moisture-rich springs foster environments for ants, wasps, and other pests. While spring brings a variety of unwanted visitors, several pests draw particular attention. Project requests for bee control spiked 197% on Yelp from February 2025 to March 2025, while wasp and hornet extermination requests rose 212%, indicating that concerns about stinging insects are top of mind in warmer months. Mosquito extermination requests were up 157% during the same period. Preventive pest control requests rose 57% in March 2025 and continued to climb throughout the summer. Learn tips for springtime pest control.
On April 3, a Chick-fil-A employee at a restaurant in Kinston, North Carolina, found nearly US$10,000 on the floor next to a toilet in the men’s restroom, according to 5 WCSC News. Jaydon Cintron said he was taking his normal work break when the teenager found two white envelopes. One was labeled First Citizens Bank and contained $5,000, and another was labeled Truist Bank and contained $4,333. The restaurant attempted to review the security video to identify who the money belonged to. However, the money’s owner came forward Monday morning to accept the cash. The owner gave Cintron a $500 reward for his good deed.