Palmer Events Center, Austin Convention Center Attain 2024 GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation

October 9, 2023

AUSTIN, Texas – The Palmer Events Center and the Austin Convention Center have successfully achieved 2024 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.

“The GBAC third-party verification process empowers us to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our workers, clients and attendees,” said Taje Allen, Austin Convention Center Department, Assistant Director. “Our team is committed to operating safely and to mitigating possible biorisk situations.”

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, 2023, and now for 2024.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response, and recovery accreditation, GBAC STAR™ helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training, and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that both the Palmer Events Center and the Austin Convention Center implement best practices to prepare for, respond to, and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.

To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation both facilities 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.

More can be found about GBAC STAR accreditation at www.gbac.org. The complete listing of accredited facilities and to view current statuses, the GBAC STAR Facility Directory can be found at https://gbacstardirectory.issa.com/.