The Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel Has Achieved GBAC STAR™ Facility Accreditation
Springfield, MA – January 18, 2021 – The Sheraton Springfield Hotel has announced that it has achieved 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, The Sheraton Springfield Hotel has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its Hotel.
The Sheraton Springfield is the only Hotel in the area to receive this accreditation.
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 the Sheraton Springfield Hotel implements best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.
“GBAC STAR accreditation empowers facility owners and managers to assure workers, customers and key stakeholders that they have proven systems in place to maintain clean and healthy environments,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “By taking this important step to pursue GBAC STAR, The Sheraton Springfield Hotel has received third-party validation that it follows strict protocols for biorisk situations, thereby demonstrating its preparedness and commitment to operating safely.”
“A hotel general manager typically knows a lot about cleaning and sanitizing. It’s our job to know. The training requirements of any reputable hotel brand general manager are already quite extensive. The GBAC training takes this training to whole new level. It is extremely detailed with a huge focus on prevention and risk assessment. I am proud to say that I am now a GBAC Trained Technician and can ensure that the Sheraton Springfield is without a doubt your cleanest and most highly sanitized and disinfected hotel choice.”
To achieve GBAC STAR™ accreditation, The Sheraton Springfield 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 at www.gbac.org.
In addition to becoming a GBAC STAR™ accredited facility, the Sheraton Springfield also installed the Atmos Air bipolar ionization system throughout the hotel’s HVAC system. This system is 99.9% proven to kill bacteria, including the corona virus, in the air as well as on hard surfaces.
“I’ll say it again, there is no safer place to stay”, states Gravanis.
About the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel
Downtown Springfield’s Largest Hotel, the Sheraton Springfield is a short walk MassMutual Convention Center and MGM Springfield’s world class casino and recreation facility. The Sheraton is host to many of the area’s largest conventions and social events, with 325 guestrooms, 36,000 square feet of versatile function space, two onsite restaurants, a full-service fitness facility and transportation service to and from MGM Casino.
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.