Greater Columbus Convention Center Achieves Global Sanitation Accreditation: GBAC STAR

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Industry-leading protocols provide trusted protection for the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Columbus, OH (December 22, 2020) – The Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC) managed by  ASM Global is the latest convention center to earn the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC)  STAR™ accreditation. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning

industry association, GCCC has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection, and  infectious disease prevention in the facility.

To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, the Greater Columbus Convention Center was 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.

With the GBAC STARaccreditation, the GCCC has:

▪ Maintained a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks  associated with infectious agents like COVID-19.

▪ Established proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques and work practices to combat  biohazards and infectious disease.

▪ Employed cleaning professionals who are trained for outbreak and infectious disease preparation  and response.

Additionally, to ensure that operations are at the highest standards of health & safety for guests, the  Greater Columbus Convention Center has implemented the VenueShield environmental hygiene program.  VenueShield was created by ASM Global, the world’s largest venue management and services company. Tailored as a comprehensive and best-in-class program, VenueShield, has been deployed at more than 325  ASM Global facilities around the world, including the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

The continued integration of VenueShield with the evolving meetings and events industry are of top  priority at the GCCC. VenueShield was developed in accordance with international health care guidelines  from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Health  Service (NHS), among others. The protocols and procedures within VenueShield include the use of  personal protective equipment (PPE), food safety measures, air quality control, surface cleaning, physical  distancing, temperature checks, thermal cameras, hand sanitizers, and reduced touch points along the  entire customer journey.

To add convenience and value to all advanced safety protocols, GCCC’s PPE Resource Center has been  made accessible to events and guests via an online portal from applied graphics partner, ID Graphics with  ID Clean Solutions. The PPE pre-order link can be accessed at: https://bit.ly/GCCCPPE. Curbside  delivery is also available.

The GCCC Reopening Plan can be found at https://columbusconventions.com. The full VenueShield  Environmental Hygiene program is available to GCCC clients during the event planning process.

ABOUT GREATER COLUMBUS CONVENTION CENTER: 

The award-winning, 1.8 million-square-foot Greater Columbus Convention Center offers 373,000 square  feet of contiguous exhibit space, 75 meeting rooms and a total of 114,000 square feet of ballroom space  among three ballrooms. The facility is owned and developed by the Franklin County Convention  Facilities Authority and managed by ASM Global. For more information, please call (614) 827-2500, or  visit https://columbusconventions.com . Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ColumbusConventions  and follow us on Twitter @CBusConventions.

ABOUT ASM GLOBAL:  

ASM Global is the world’s leading venue management and services company. The company was formed  by the combination of AEG Facilities and SMG, global leaders in venue and event strategy and

management. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than  325 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention, and exhibition centers, and performing  arts venues. From Aberdeen to Anchorage, and Sydney to Stockholm, its venues connect people through  the unique power of live experiences. ASM Global’s diverse portfolio of clients benefit from the  company’s depth of resources and unparalleled experience, expertise and creative problem-solving. Each  day, the company’s 61,000 passionate employees around the world deliver locally tailored solutions and  cutting-edge technologies to deliver maximum results for venue owners and amazing experiences for  guests. By consistently looking for new ways to envision, innovate and empower the spaces and places  that bring people together, ASM Global elevates the human spirit while delivering the highest value for  all stakeholders. For more information, please visit www.asmglobal.com.

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, Forensic Restoration® response and remediation, the GBAC STAR™ facility  accreditation program, 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 9,300 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.

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