PPAI Expo is First GBAC STAR Accredited Event of 2022

ROSEMONT, Ill.Jan. 11, 2022—Promotional Products Association International (PPAI) Expo, the largest promotional products tradeshow, offers exhibition floor access January 11-13 at Mandalay Bay Convention Center & Resort in Las Vegas. It is the first GBAC STAR™ accredited event of 2022. Mandalay Bay Convention Center has achieved GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC), a Division of ISSA, and the event’s facility service provider, United Service Companies, has earned GBAC STAR™ Service Accreditation.

“GBAC STAR accredited facilities and service providers have the correct work practices, procedures, and systems in place to deal with infectious disease risks,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “Their knowledge and formal accreditation give exhibitors and attendees confidence that show organizers are taking the proper health and safety precautions to ensure successful events.”

GBAC STAR is a multi-faceted accreditation program developed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It requires participating facilities to showcase compliance with 20 program elements related to cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention in order to achieve the GBAC STAR accredited facility designation. Additionally, building service contractors responsible for maintaining commercial facilities can achieve GBAC STAR Service Accreditation to further support cleanliness and the infection prevention measures that are critical to hosting safe events. Event organizers interested in hosting a GBAC STAR accredited event must fulfill a comprehensive checklist to market this third-party validation.

PPAI Expo has 8,500 preregistered attendees and anticipates 6,000 visitors and 3,000 exhibitors for the in-person event. Mandalay Bay Convention Center is the fifth largest convention center in the United States. It initially earned GBAC STAR Facility Accreditation in June 2021. United Service Companies secured GBAC STAR Service Accreditation in May 2021 and, like accredited facilities, will undergo an annual renewal process to maintain its accreditation status.

PPAI Expo is requiring masks to be worn at all indoor events and is offering free individually wrapped cloth, surgical, and KN95 masks in addition to complimentary COVID-19 test kits at registration. The Expo also prepared for changes to city, state, and federal government guidelines by partnering with biotech identity verification firm CLEAR to develop an app to track proof of vaccination or negative test results among attendees.

“Many organizations are hoping that 2022 is the year they can once again host in-person meetings and conventions after two consecutive years of virtual formats,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “Accreditation is a path that enables facilities of all types, building service contractors, destinations, and event organizers to safely bring people together, even as the pandemic continues.”

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

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 and service accreditation programs, 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 10,500 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 Rosemont, 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.

 

###

 

For more information, contact ISSA Director of Communications Jill Nuppenau at [email protected]; phone, 847-982-0800 Ext. 1367.