Austin Convention Center, Palmer Events Center Achieve 2022 GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation

January 10, 2022

The Austin Convention Center and the Palmer Events Center have successfully achieved GBAC Star Facility Accreditation for 2022, meaning that each facility continues to maintain established cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention programs to minimize risks associated with infectious agents.

Verified by the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a division of ISSA, the Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association, the accreditation means that the Austin Convention Center Department (ACCD) is using proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and best practices to combat biohazards and infectious disease.

“The GBAC accreditation is the gold standard for prepared facilities as we continue to host numerous and bigger events at the Austin Convention Center and Palmer Events Center,” said Trisha Tatro, Austin Convention Center Department Director. “This third-party verification means we are continually providing safe environments for meetings and events. For our staff, clients, and visitors we are using the most stringent methods and protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and prevention.”

ACCD operates the Austin Convention Center and Palmer Events Center. The facilities first earned the annual performance-based accreditation in 2021 and achieved GBAC STAR™ reaccreditations for 2022. The Austin Convention Center Department demonstrated compliance with the program’s 20 core elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. Learn more about GBAC STAR accreditation at www.gbac.org.

“The GBAC process forces us to consistently check ourselves to ensure results,” said Taje Allen, Austin Convention Center Department, Facilities Manager. “Over the past year, our team has learned to trust our training and gained knowledge of strategic ways to mitigate any issues that arise.”

About ACCD

The Austin Convention Center and the Palmer Events Center are LEED® Gold-certified and GBAC STAR™-accredited facilities. The Austin Convention Center is located at 500 East Cesar Chavez, in the heart of downtown. The Palmer Events Center is a multipurpose venue, nestled next to Butler Park, Auditorium Shores and Lady Bird Lake, at 900 Barton Springs Road. The Austin Convention Center Department is comprised of 301 full-time staff positions and is an enterprise department for the City of Austin. As an enterprise department, ACCD is not funded by property taxes, sales taxes, or through transfers from the electric and water utilities.

About GBAC, a Division of ISSA

Composed of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response and recovery, the Global Biorisk Advisory CouncilTM (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, provides training, guidance, accreditation, certification, crisis management assistance and leadership to government, commercial and private entities looking to mitigate, quickly address and/or recover from biological threats and real-time crises. The organization’s services include biorisk management program assessment and training, Forensic Restoration® response and remediation, the GBAC STAR™ facility and service accreditation programs, training and certification of individuals and consulting for building owners and facility managers. For more information, visit www.gbac.org.

About ISSA

With more than 10,500 members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners and associated service members—ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Northbrook, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Mainz, Germany; Whitby, Canada; Parramatta, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800.