Articles

Rebuilding the Economy by Changing the Way the World Views Cleaning

Categories: Cleaning for Health & Safety, EMEA, Innovations, Trends & Technology, ISSA Insights

In light of the current impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and in recognition of of Global Exhibitions Day (June 3) ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, and ISSA Show North America are rallying to empower the cleaning industry to rebuild the economy and truly change the way the world views cleaning.

ISSA, The Worldwide Cleaning Industry Association

How Will the Industry Step Up?

ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, is working to serve its members and leverage the industry’s collective voice in these challenging times. In March, ISSA Executive Director John Barrett had the distinct honor to represent ISSA on a White House Communications Call with President Donald Trump, who called upon executives from industrial supply retailers and wholesalers regarding the national response to COVID-19. The President thanked them for providing the goods Americans rely on every day and expressed his gratitude to the incredible employees who are working tirelessly to that end. 

Trump and members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force discussed how the administration’s lifting of federal restrictions on the trucking industry allows maximum efficiency throughout the distribution network. Further, they discussed how continued cooperation and coordination between the private sector and all levels of government is essential to mitigate the effects of this pandemic. 

Barrett was encouraged by the call and is pleased that the commercial and institutional cleaning industry is viewed as essential first responders in this time of need. ISSA commends its members for their efforts to flatten the curve in their respective businesses and encourage them to continue to meet the needs of those they serve however they can.

Further, ISSA is dedicated to helping cleaning industry professionals understand how to properly clean and safely disinfect for the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Visit the association’s coronavirus resource page to access regularly updated information such as downloadable tip sheets, online training, webinars, government updates and additional business resources for the industry.

Combating COVID-19 at Trade Show and Event Facilities with ISSA’s GBAC^® STAR Program

Accreditation will assure visitors your building is clean and healthy.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, unveiled its GBAC^® STAR Facility Accreditation Program on cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.

The GBAC^® STAR program is the industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation. The program establishes requirements to assist facilities with work practices, protocols, procedures, and systems to control risks associated with infectious agents, such as SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19. The performance based GBAC^® STAR program enables facilities to create and maintain an effective cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program.

Ideal for facilities like offices, restaurants, hotels, airports, convention centers, stadiums, and other public venues of all sizes, the GBAC^® STAR program assesses a facility’s preparedness and provides staff with training for biorisk prevention and containment. The program also establishes a framework for communication and awareness best practices.

Public facilities seeking to improve their operating procedures related to sanitation and infection control will now have the opportunity to earn a “seal of approval” from The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a Division of ISSA. The GBAC^® STAR seal will signal to the public that a facility has met GBAC’s rigorous requirements for maintaining a clean environment and mitigating biological risks.

“GBAC^® STAR is the gold standard of safe facilities, providing third-party validation that ensures facilities implement strict protocols for biorisk situations,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “Accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers, and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to deliver clean and healthy environments that are safe for business.”

GBAC Accreditation Prepares Facilities to Reopen Confidently

As facilities such as restaurants and shopping malls prepare to reopen—and others such as hotels and airports prepare for heavier traffic—facility managers are tasked with maintaining clean, hygienic buildings that inspire customer confidence. Despite the quality of products and services offered, many consumers emerging from their COVID-19 stay-at-home orders will not give their business to a company if its building does not meet strict cleanliness standards.

Survival of many of these businesses will depend on the skill of their cleaning teams, according to Forbes. Research by SEMrush, a data and trends tracking company, showed that Google inquiries seeking to learn “Is it safe to fly” increased by 3,693% from pre-pandemic to during the pandemic. Similarly, searches for “Are hotels safe?” rose 21,900%.

Facility managers are looking for ways to boost custodians’ cleaning skills and ensure worker safety, with many focusing on training. The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a Division of ISSA’s GBAC^® STAR facility accreditation program on cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention is a key component to driving the successful revival of the economy.

Convention Centers Announce Commitment to GBAC^® STAR Accreditation

Chicago’s McCormick Place—the host of ISSA Show North America 2020—along with the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas, the Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) and many others have announced plans to pursue GBAC^® STAR accreditation.

To earn GBAC^® STAR accreditation, these leading convention centers must demonstrate compliance with GBAC^® STAR’s 20 elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures. GBAC^® STAR

“Since the onset of this pandemic we have been committed to ensuring our facilities are safe for the return of our customers, show attendees, and team members,” said Frank Poe, GWCCA executive director. “Working with GBAC to achieve GBAC^® STAR accreditation will ensure the highest cleaning and disinfection protocols are being implemented at GWCC and Savannah. We would expect nothing less of ourselves and for our facilities.”

• In addition to many of the largest convention centers in the country, these leading organizations have already committed to achieve GBAC^® STAR accreditation in their facilities: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins
• Lincoln Financial Field, home to the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles
• Staples Center in Los Angeles, home to the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers, the NHL’s Los Angeles Kings and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
• The Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd., which represents more than 400 hotels in over 80 countries Visit Dallas, the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District, Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas and Dallas city-owned arts and cultural institutions
• Christ Fellowship Christian Church and its locations throughout South Florida.

Additionally, these prominent industry organizations are among the first to commit their support for GBAC^® STAR with their thousands of constituents:

• International Association of Venue Managers and its 7,000 member facilities globally
• International Facility Management Association and its 23,000 members worldwide
• Global Market Development Center, the premier global trade association for the retail industry, and its 400-plus members
• Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association and its 400 hotels in the state of Illinois
• Informa Markets and its 500 brands and expositions.
• International Association of Exhibitions and Events and its 12,000 members in 50 countries
• Professional Beauty Association and its 100,000 members
• Media Edge Communications and its portfolio of media products, trade shows and conferences with association partners in Canada
• Trade Show Executive Media
• Freeman + Go LIVE Together, a coalition of leaders from the live events industry that represent more than 4,000 companies with U.S. operations and 112 other countries
• Society of Independent Show Organizers (SISO) and its more than 195 members that produce over 3,500 events globally.

Accreditation Criteria and Process

To achieve GBAC^® STAR accreditation, facilities must demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 elements, which range from standard operating procedures and risk assessment strategies to personal protective equipment and emergency preparedness and response measures.

Facilities will apply online and provide all documentation and supporting evidence with their application. The GBAC^® STAR Accreditation Council determines the status of all GBAC^® STAR facilities.

“In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the GBAC^® STAR accreditation program is exactly what facilities need to confidently reopen and keep staff, customers, and communities safe,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “The way the world views cleaning has changed overnight. To effectively recover from this crisis and prepare for the next, it’s essential that businesses take these necessary steps—and we’re thrilled to have a stable of top organizations that have already committed to the program.”

To learn more about the GBAC^® STAR facility accreditation program, visit www.gbac.org.

Stronger Together at ISSA Show North America 2020

The One Show with the Power to Change the Way the World Views Cleaning

The mission of ISSA Show North America is to be the leading resource for information, education, innovation, networking, and commercial opportunities for firms within the worldwide cleaning industry. It’s where leaders gather to transfer knowledge and create cutting edge solutions to push the industry forward. In doing so, we leverage the strength of a global community to change the way the world views cleaning – increasing the appreciation for cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line.

ISSA Show North America 2020 takes place October 26-29 at McCormick Place in Chicago.

“We’re living in very uncertain times right now. We are working diligently behind the scenes to deliver an impactful and engaging event this October. As we continue to closely monitor the developments of COVID-19 through the advice or public health and local government authorities we are moving ahead as planned with the event,” said Lindsay Roberts, Group Director, Informa Markets. “I’m truly inspired at the work this industry is performing in the frontlines. COVID-19 has wreaked havoc across the globe and will undeniably change the way we do business. Now more than ever, our industry needs to band together to share best practices and lessons learned. We look forward to uniting as one in Chicago, where we can change the way the world views cleaning.”

Continued Growth for Education Sessions, Certifications, and Workshops

Following last year’s historic mark of presenting more than 100 education sessions, ISSA Show North America 2020 will expand its workshop offerings from six to 16! The unmatched conference program features more than 100 education sessions, workshops, panels, training and certification courses throughout four days. This allows attendees and exhibitors alike the ability to build skills, boost customer knowledge, and improve business all under one roof.

“The conference program covers many other critical areas in addition to the tracks,” said Kim Althoff, ISSA vice president of trade shows, education, media, and sales. “To date, we have sixteen certifications and workshops on the schedule spanning all four days of the event.”

Other topical sessions cover business management, self-improvement, succession planning, emerging technologies, and infection control. More sessions are being added in the months ahead to address the latest trends and developments in the evolving commercial cleaning industry.

Below are examples of the education sessions that will address the COVID-19 pandemic, lessons learned, as well as detecting and preventing the spread of infectious diseases this October in Chicago:

• COVID-19 The Triad – Understanding the COVID-19 pandemic and the implications to health care providers and staff, this session will address the three key departments and the associated implications going forward. Presented by IEHA, a Division of ISSA.
• COVID-19 Response: Maintaining Healthy Green Schools & Colleges during a Global Pandemic – Learn the importance of proactive leadership during public health crises, how to develop key processes and best practices to ensure staff are trained and prepared for future emergency response. Presented by Healthy Green Schools & Colleges
• Coronavirus Pandemic: Lessons Learned for the Residential Cleaning Community – Join the industry experts in an in-depth discussion on lessons learned from the pandemic. The panel will look at what changes being made in businesses to improve the residential cleaning community moving forward. Presented by ARCSI, a Division of ISSA.
• GBAC Bioremediation and Response Fundamentals (TWO-DAY WORKSHOP) – Develop the knowledge and competence to identify, evaluate, reduce, and eliminate biological threats and improve environmental and patient recovery. This two-part course demonstrates hands-on situational response training and covers the fundamentals of biohazardous material cleanup and waste management. Presented by GBAC, a Division of ISSA.

Worry-Free Registration

100% Refunds, No Questions Asked!

Early Bird Registration is now open for ISSA Show North America. In celebration of the 2020 show, we are happy to offer special discounted pricing available through June 30. Get the first pick of events, certifications, workshops, and special education before they sell out!

As we know these are difficult times, we are closely monitoring the developments of COVID-19 through the advice of public health authorities. ISSA Show North America is going ahead as planned and we are working diligently behind the scenes to deliver an impactful and engaging event this coming October. To ensure your early commitment is risk-free, all attendees taking advantage of Early Bird Registration will receive a 100% refund if for any reason they need to cancel, no questions asked.

Now more than ever, the cleaning industry needs to band together to share best practices and lessons learned. We look forward to coming together as one family in October, showcasing the industry’s amazing work.

For further information on registration, please visit issashow.com/register.

About the Author.

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate, and grow. our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including healthcare & pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, construction & real estate, fashion & apparel, hospitality, food & beverage, and health & nutrition, among others. we provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience, and do business through face-to face exhibitions, specialist digital content, and actionable data solutions. As the world’s leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.