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Travel Safely to GBAC^® STAR Accredited Destinations this Summer

Over two-thirds (67%) of Americans are planning to travel this summer as COVID-19 cases continue to drop and more cities lift social distancing measures. To prioritize traveler health and safety and enhance visitor confidence, several must-see destinations in North America have teamed up with the Global Biorisk Advisory Council®, (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, to help their local businesses achieve GBAC^® STAR Facility Accreditation, including Discover the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida; Visit Dallas in Texas; Visit Baltimore in Maryland; and Explore Edmonton in Alberta, Canada.

“The world is opening up, but it is essential that the global cleaning industry continues to offer consistent information based off of our decades of knowledge that can’t simply be ‘Googled,’” said ISSA President Steve Lewis. “The GBAC^® STAR Facility Accreditation program establishes step-by-step procedures for facilities designed to attain a heightened level of cleanliness that consumers, and especially travelers, expect moving forward. We are not just cleaning for appearance anymore; we are cleaning for health.”  

This week, the Fillmore Silver Spring, a dynamic and first-class arts and entertainment venue in Maryland, achieved GBAC^® STAR accreditation, just in time for the live concerts it will host throughout the summer. Additionally, museums, restaurants, hotels and convention centers worldwide earned accreditation to the gold standard of cleanliness.

The latest facilities to earn GBAC^® STAR accreditation include:

Convention Centers

• Columbia Convention Center in Columbia, S.C.
• Hir Expo Internacional in Mexico City

Hotels

• Renaissance Dallas Hotel in Dallas
• Westin Edmonton in Edmonton, Alberta

Museums or Cultural Venues

• Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum in Boca Raton, Fla.
• Minnesota Children’s Museum in Saint Paul, Minn.

Restaurant or Food Service Facility

• Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen in Dallas

Stadiums or Arenas

• Desoto County Convention and Visitors Bureau/Landers Center in Southaven, Miss.

Performing Arts Center

• Fillmore Silver Spring in Silver Spring, Md.

In addition to these locations, numerous airports around the nation have earned GBAC^® STAR accreditation, with many more having committed to the program, including Los Angeles International Airport in California.

“Even well after the pandemic has passed, GBAC^® STAR and our dedication to cleanliness will remain extremely relevant, protecting travelers, guests, staff, and everyone in between,” Lewis added.

Learn more and apply for GBAC^® STAR Facility Accreditation at gbac.org/star. 

Find accredited facilities and those pursuing accreditation via the GBAC^® STAR Facility Directory at gbac.org/directory.