News & Articles - GBAC

  • Canadian City Seeks Accreditation as Safe Destination for Travel, Business

    2021/03/09

    Edmonton will soon be the first Canadian destination with a health and safety designation. Explore Edmonton is collaborating with its tourism and hospitality industries to pursue a city-wide Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accreditation. “Edmonton’s tourism, hospitality and events industries will play an important role in our region’s post-COVID recovery, getting people back to work, welcoming travellers back to the city and delivering important economic and social benefits to our region,” says Maggie Davison, acting CEO of Explore Edmonton.…

    Meeting Community

  • Vancouver Convention Centre Starts 2021 on High Note

    2021/01/25

    The Vancouver Convention Centre has earned the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accreditation for outbreak prevention, response and recovery, and been awarded the 2020 Clean Air Award by the National Air Filtration Association (NAFA). Administered by GBAC, a division of the worldwide cleaning industry association ISSA, GBAC Star provides third-party validation that public facilities have rigorous protocols in place for thorough response to biorisk situations. With the events venue’s achievement, all of B.C. Pavilion Corp.’s (PavCo) facilities have earned the…

    Breaking News

  • Number of GBAC Star Certified Facilities Climbs

    2020/12/02

    Seventeen Canadian facilities are now Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accredited and 11 more have committed to certification. Ramada by Wyndham Kamloops in British Columbia, Hyatt Place Edmonton West, RBC Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Hyatt Place Ottawa West and Fredericton Convention Centre in New Brunswick are among those that have started the coronavirus cleaning and prevention program. Administered by GBAC, a division of the worldwide cleaning industry association ISSA, GBAC Star is considered the gold standard of prepared facilities.…

    Breaking News

  • Calgary Convention Venues Earn Coveted Facility Accreditation

    2020/10/20

    Two of Alberta’s largest convention centres have received the event industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery certification, GBAC Star. The Calgary Telus Convention Centre (CTCC) and BMO Centre at Stampede Park join an exclusive group of international leaders who have implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in their facilities. “We want to ensure clients are comfortable and safe hosting events in our venues and for that we need to meet the highest standards…

    Breaking News

  • IAEE Updates Guidelines for Safe Return of Events

    2020/10/20

    The International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) has updated its essential considerations for safely reopening exhibitions and events during the COVID-19 pandemic. The revised white paper includes enhancements in insurance and travel considerations. It features new content on improved risk assessment and force majeure — a common contract clause that essentially frees both parties from liability or obligation when an extraordinary event or circumstance occurs beyond their control that prevents either or both from fulfilling their obligations under the…

    Breaking News

  • The Show Must Go On: Safe Practices for the Return of Live Events

    2020/09/15

    The return of in-person conferences and events is crucial to helping economies recover. They attract exhibitors and attendees from all over the world, generating millions of dollars in tourism revenue, and support tens of thousands of jobs across a multitude of industries. As co-chair of the Exhibition Services and Contractors Association’s health and safety committee and a member of the industry event and health advisory group for the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, a division of the worldwide cleaning industry association…

    Event Operations

  • Edmonton Venues Commit to Achieve GBAC Star Certification

    2020/07/20

    A pair of convention centres in Alberta’s capital will become two of the first venues in Canada to pursue the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) Star accreditation for outbreak prevention, response and recovery. The announcement by the Edmonton Convention Centre and Edmonton Expo Centre comes less than a month after the Toronto Congress Centre committed to the standard, and just days before the provincial government announced the resumption of trade shows and exhibits, effective July 17. GBAC Star is considered the gold standard…

    Breaking News

  • Organizers, Venues take Meaningful Steps to Bring Events Industry Back

    2020/06/10

    The events industry is getting ready for a new landscape as provincial and local governments country-wide lift pandemic-related restrictions on businesses and group gatherings. Recognizing people may be uneasy and even anxious about attending larger exhibitions like conferences and trade shows when they are allowed to resume, organizers and venues are taking steps now to impart consumer confidence. “We have been preparing for a return of events by building a list of potential measures that sit under the cornerstones of…

    Contingency/Disaster Planning, Event Operations

  • Toronto Congress Centre Becomes First Venue in Canada to Pursue GBAC STAR Accreditation

    2020/06/10

    The Toronto Congress Centre (TCC) has announced its commitment to the health and safety of its staff and guests by becoming the first venue in Canada to pursue the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation for outbreak prevention, response and recovery. GBAC STAR is the gold standard of prepared facilities and provides third-party validation that facilities have rigorous protocols in place for thorough response to biorisk situations. GBAC STAR is an industry accreditation focused on ensuring a clean, safe…

    Breaking News

  • IAEE White Paper Highlights Considerations for Safe Return of Events

    2020/06/09

    A new white paper released by the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) provides essential considerations for safely reopening exhibitions and events during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Although we are eager to get back to our usual face-to-face business environment, safety must be the top priority and we must look to the science and medical communities for the best ways to go about producing our shows,” says IAEE president and CEO, David DuBois. IAEE’s health and safety task force teamed…

    Breaking News

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