FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 16, 2020
Contact: Andra Bennett
(817) 392-2735

Fort Worth Convention Center and Will Rogers Memorial Center Receive GBAC “Star” Facility Accreditation

FORT WORTH -- The Fort Worth Convention Center (FWCC) and the Will Rogers Memorial Center (WRMC) have received the “STAR” Facility accreditation status from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for facilities.

“GBAC accreditation is the gold standard of prepared facilities,” said Mike Crum, director of Public Events for the City of Fort Worth. “Meeting planners will find that we have gone the extra mile to assure their event attendees have as safe an experience as possible while in our buildings.”

GBAC accreditation means that a facility has:
  • Established and maintained a cleaning, disinfection, and infectious disease prevention program to minimize risks associated with infectious agents like the novel coronavirus.
  • The proper cleaning protocols, disinfection techniques, and work practices in place to combat biohazards and infectious disease.
  • Highly informed cleaning professionals who are trained for outbreak and infectious disease preparation and response.


“As the operations team has gone through the rigorous GBAC application process, we’ve been able to create and enhance our cleaning protocols,” said Cynthia Serrano, acting general manager of the FWCC. “We’ve also developed new methodologies for our team to expand how we evaluate what is clean and safe.”

For example, technicians are deploying the use of an ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate) meter, used widely by janitorial experts, to obtain readings on the cleanliness of the building. By doing this in-house, they are able to target high traffic areas and increase frequency of disinfecting where and when needed.

Touch points are the most significant places of the transfer of bacteria and the spread of viruses. WRMC and FWCC have reduced as many touch points as possible in the restrooms by installing auto-flush toilets and urinals, automatic sink faucets and auto- dispensing equipment for soap, sanitizer and paper towels.

Bipolar Ionization systems were also installed in the FWCC and WRMC. This process involves releasing ionized particles (molecules with a positive/negative charge) that will attach to and deactivate harmful substances like bacteria, mold, allergens, and viruses at the molecular level. The result is cleaner and healthier air.

“We always had a high standard, but now we are sanitizing for safety as well as cleaning for aesthetics,” said Kevin Kemp, general manager of WRMC.

As part of the requirement for accreditation, 18 Public Events Department employees also received a GBAC Trained-Technician certification. Individuals earning the certification are trained in planning, knowledge and processes needed to respond to a biohazard crisis in the workplace. They also mastered preventive, response and contamination control measures for infectious disease outbreak situations such as COVID-19.

“Team members earning the GBAC designation bring increased value to our clients because they have shown a commitment to safety, excellence and continuous learning,” said Kemp.

About GBAC
The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) helps organizations and businesses prepare for, respond to, and recover from biological threats, and biohazard situations and real-time crises. They offer education, training, certification, response management, and crisis consulting for situations where environments require a much higher level of cleaning, disinfection, and restoration. GBAC is a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.

The GBAC STAR accreditation program is based on quality management system principles and is similar in approach to other relevant industry programs like ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 35001. GBAC is a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association.

About Will Rogers Memorial Center
The Will Rogers Memorial Center offers a variety of event space options to fit almost every need. The Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Hall offers the Texas Room with over 94,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, the 18,000 square foot Round Up Inn ballroom and five additional meeting rooms including the Will Rogers Suite boardroom. The historic Will Rogers Auditorium features 2,856 permanent seats, a proscenium stage, extensive dressing room capacity and beautiful Art Deco features inside and out. The Center also includes multiple arenas and livestock holding facilities to host equestrian and livestock shows of all sizes as well as sporting and social events and over 300,000 square feet of outdoor event space.

About Fort Worth Convention Center
The Fort Worth Convention Center and Arena, located in the Central Business District, hosts events that include sports, concerts, conventions and trade shows. With more than 250,000 square feet of exhibit space, 41 meeting rooms, an event plaza of more than 55,000 square event space and a ballroom of 28,000 square feet, the Fort Worth Convention Center is the premiere event space in downtown Fort Worth. Owned and operated by the City of Fort Worth, the Convention Center first opened in 1968 and was expanded in 2002.

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