VisitDallas and the Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District are collaborating to become the first destination to receive Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR accreditation designating Dallas hotels, the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas (KBHCCD), and selected city-owned arts and cultural institutions as sanitary and safe.
This initiative, administered by GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, will serve as the gold standard for facilities to implement cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention protocols in Dallas.
“When our residents, visitors and meeting and convention attendees are able to return and enjoy our great city, we want them to have peace of mind that Dallas is doing everything we can to create the safest and healthiest environment possible,” said Craig Davis, president and CEO of VisitDallas, in a statement.
The DTPID is teaming up with VisitDallas to implement and fund the effort for its member hotels within the tourism public improvement district. Additionally, VisitDallas will sponsor scholarships for facility personnel at city-owned arts and cultural institutions to enroll in the GBAC Online Fundamentals Course, which trains individuals on infection and contamination control measures for infectious disease outbreak situations such as the novel coronavirus.
“We know DTPID hotels are initiating their own individual and brand-led sanitary programs,” said Greg White, Chair of the DTPID. “This third-party accreditation program is designed to provide an additional layer of protection and trust to ensure that hotels and other key City of Dallas facilities are in a safe, sanitary and healthy condition for visitors and residents.”
In order to earn GBAC STAR accreditation, DTPID hotels, the KBCHHD and other selected city facilities will demonstrate compliance with the program’s 20 elements with specific performance and guidance criteria.
The GBAC STAR program will enable facilities to accomplish three main goals:
- Establish and maintain a cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention program to control and/or minimize risk associated with infectious agents such as SARS-CoV-2 for employees, customers, clients, visitors, the community and the environment.
- Provide assurance to guests and establish confidence that proper cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention work practices are in place and implemented.
- Establish a framework for communication and raising awareness of best practices as they relate to cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention.
“We applaud VisitDallas and the DTPID for their leadership in pursuing GBAC STAR accreditation,” said GBAC Executive Director Patty Olinger. “Through the accreditation process, Dallas will illustrate that it has a comprehensive program in place to ensure a clean, safe and healthy environment for its visitors and residents alike.”
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