Palmer Events Center, Austin Convention Center Attain 2023 GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation

February 8, 2023

AUSTIN, Texas – The Palmer Events Center and the Austin Convention Center have successfully achieved 2023 Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR™ accreditation, the gold standard for prepared facilities. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, reaccreditation means that each facility has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention.

Verified by GBAC, 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 diseases.

“This third-party verification means we are continually providing safe environments for meetings and events,” said Trisha Tatro, Austin Convention Center Department Director. “This confirms to our visitors and clients that our staff is using the most stringent methods and protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and prevention.”

The Austin Convention Center Department 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 in 2022 and now for 2023.

To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation both facilities operated by the Austin Convention Center Department were required to demonstrate 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 empowers us to check and ensure positive results using proven systems to maintain clean and healthy environments,” said Taje Allen, Austin Convention Center Department, Assistant Director. “Verified by GBAC, our team has demonstrated the commitment to operate safely and mitigate biorisk situations 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 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 Council™ (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, infectious disease and biological material response and remediation, the GBAC STAR™ Facility and Service Accreditation Programs, training and certification of individuals, and consulting for building owners and facility managers.

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 Milan, Italy; 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.