By ISSA and R.V. Baugus

Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport outside of Dallas and Fort Worth is the first airport in the world to earn GBAC STAR™ facility accreditation from The Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC), a Division of ISSA. The airport is joined by 25 additional newly accredited facilities, including Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla., John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, McCormick Place in Chicago, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, and more.

“We are thrilled to welcome the first group of airports to the growing list of GBAC STAR accredited facilities, as well as other landmark facilities across the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe, and South America,” said GBAC Executive Director Patricia Olinger. “Accreditation demonstrates to facility visitors and employees that an organization prioritizes occupant safety and has the necessary steps in place to handle biorisks like the novel coronavirus.”

One of the busiest airports in the world, DFW International Airport features more than 160 aircraft gates and welcomed nearly 75 million passengers in 2019. It is home to the largest American Airlines hub and will have a GBAC STAR-accredited American Airlines lounge in the near future as part of the airline’s commitment to GBAC STAR for its entire fleet and lounges. John Glenn Columbus International Airport served more than 8.5 million passengers in 2019 while the Palm Beach International Airport is an award-winning facility that has a 600,000 square foot terminal.

The following facilities have earned GBAC STAR accreditation this week:

Convention Centers
Beanfield Centre in Toronto
Better Living Centre in Toronto
Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Ala.
Enercare Centre in Toronto
Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio
La Crosse Center in La Crosse, Wisc.
Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas
McCormick Place in Chicago
Miami Beach Convention Center in Miami Beach, Fla.
Queen Elizabeth Exhibit Hall in Toronto
Renasant Convention Center in Memphis, Tenn.
Savannah Convention Center in Savannah, Ga.

Theater
Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles

Airports
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport in Texas
John Glenn Columbus International Airport in Columbus, Ohio
Palm Beach International Airport in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Hotels
Grand Hyatt Hong Kong in Hong Kong
Hyatt Place Fort Wayne in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Hyatt Regency Chongqing in Chongqing, China
Hyatt Regency Orange County in Garden Grove, Calif.
Hyatt Regency Saipan in Saipan, Mariana Islands
Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif.
Thompson Washington D.C. in Washington, D.C.
Hotel Santa Caterina in Amalfi, Italy, a Leading Hotels of the World member hotel

Commercial Office
Servimeters S.A.S in Bogota, Colombia

“While nearly every organization can claim that they’ve improved their approach to cleaning in the wake of the pandemic, those that have earned GBAC STAR accreditation have the added credibility of independent validation,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “GBAC’s experts review each facility’s plans for cleaning, disinfection, and infection prevention to ensure the approach is effective and sustainable.”

To review a full list of GBAC STAR accredited facilities, committed facilities, and industry supporters, visit https://gbac.issa.com/gbac-star-facilities-and-supporters/. Additionally, hear from leaders of GBAC STAR-accredited facilities in the GBAC STAR Experience video series, available at https://gbac.issa.com/media/.

To apply for GBAC STAR facility accreditation, visit gbac.org/star.

By Ellen Lampert-Greaux

#WeMakeEvents #RedAlertRESTART and #ExtendPUA represent a major call to action, imploring the US Congress to pass the RESTART Act (S.3814) as quickly as possible, offering economic relief to the Live Events Industry, which has been shuttered since March 2020, putting millions of people out of work. Additionally, the movement is to support ExtendPUA.org in their efforts towards continuation and extension of the Pandemic Unemployment Act to provide relief to those without work due to COVID-19.

To call attention to the deep financial plight of the Live Event Industry, a nationwide event will take place on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, from 9 pm-12 midnight, when as many as 1,500 buildings across North America will be lit in red. The goal to raise public awareness that the Live Events Industry is on Red Alert for its very survival, and create congressional pressure to act now. It is estimated that 96%, or as many as 12 million people in the Live Events Industry are currently unemployed, furloughed, or have lost up to 90% of their income, and the world’s largest concert promoters are reported a 98% loss of revenue since the start of the pandemic. Once a robust $35 billion industry, the Live Events business was the first to close and the last to re-open, sustaining increased financial losses in the tens of billions of dollars.

The targeted list of cities for the #WeMakeEvents #RedAlertRESTART #ExtendPUA event on August 27 across North America includes Washington D.C., Huntsville, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, Boston, Baltimore, Las Vegas, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Nashville, Dallas, Austin, Houston, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, and Canadian neighbors including Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver.

The North American event comes on the heels of the August 11 event #WeMakeEvents Red Alert Day Of Action when over 700 buildings were lit in red across the UK, calling attention to the same plight facing the Live Events Industry there.

As theatres, concert tours, festivals, opera houses, trade shows, and other live events as well as film and television production remain closed, or open on a very limited basis, the entire industry is impacted, from designers, technicians, programmers, and stagehands to rental shops, manufacturers, and distributors of entertainment technology. The first industry to close last March, Live Events could be the last sector to re-open due to the COVID-19 crisis.

“This is an important cause that, if not acted upon immediately, could result in the complete collapse of our industry and the workers who make it possible,” says Brad Nelms, director of #We Make Events North America. “The results from the UK efforts were outstanding. We’re hoping that we can generate at least double the participation to demonstrate how much impact this shutdown has had and will continue to have. PLEASE share this message far and wide, and join in by lighting your house red and posting it on social media. This is our opportunity to show the world the scale of what it really takes to make events possible.”

For information about joining the event and lighting your building red, please contact:
WeMakeEventsNorthAmerica@gmail.com

Ellen Lampert-Gréaux is PR director for #WeMake Events North America

By R.V. Baugus

While COVID-19 has played havoc with all kinds of scheduling and events, the IAVM Certification Board announced that CVE applications will be accepted beginning on September 1 with a due date of November 1.

“COVID-19 has impacted everything, and the Certification Board is trying to be flexible to ensure our programs are accessible to all certification candidates during these challenging times,” said Rick Haycock, CVE, Chair of the Certification Board. “Whereas the certification exams have typically been staged during live IAVM events, testing can now be accommodated using local services, such as with a venue’s HR director or legal counsel, a testing center or other professional services. Similarly, for the first time, this year we will conduct all CVE Oral Interviews remotely (via Zoom). With these adaptations, certification candidates will be able to continue their certification journey unabated during this crisis.”

Meanwhile, CVP applications are still being accepted as they always are on a “rolling” basis all year. The application can be emailed once completed and can be found here.

Once an application has been received and approved by the Certification Board, a candidate may start the process of scheduling the exam.

Historically the exam has been given at IAVM events and with special permission through local testing centers. Due to current limited travel and in-person events, candidates are able to use a local CVE (IAVM Headquarters can provide a list for the candidate to reach out to) or their HR Director. Proctors must still be approved, but the goal is to provide more flexibility to allow more testing.

Since the CVP exam has been digital, this remains the same test that would have been given at an IAVM events. No special software is needed, only internet access.

After #COVID19 forced the Simmons Bank Arena in North Little Rock, Arkansas, to furlough 13 of its staff including operations, the venue’s full-time administrative staff stepped up and is participating in #MowMonday!

From left behind the masks:

Jared Lillard – Director of Finance

Sandra Stewart – IT Coordinator

Jeremy Flynn – Sales Manager

John Gillis – Director of F&B

John Dippel – Director of Ticketing

Madison Saulsbury – Senior Accountant

Joe DeGeorge – Director of Event Services

Wesley Holmes – Assistant GM

Michael Marion – GM

Ronnie Aultman – Operations Manager

Shay Matyja – Security Manager

By Holly Beal

After a two-year Vision Tulsa renovation, Cox Business Convention Center (CBCC) hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the grand re-opening of the venue’s east side with city partners, staff, guests, clients, and leadership in attendance. The event included the following speakers during the program: CBCC Assistant General Manager, Angie Teel, CMP, City of Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, Tulsa Public Facilities Authority (TPFA) Chair Marcia MacLeod, President & CEO of T.D. Williamson and Tulsa Regional Tourism Executive Board member Bob McGrew, and Cox Communications Vice-President and Tulsa Market Leader and Tulsa Regional Chamber Board of Directors Chair Roger Ramseyer.

The 2018-2020 renovation complements the existing convention center constructed in 1962, and the renovation of the venue’s northwest side as part of Vision 2025. The building’s unique architectural design is preserved and even highlighted by the new three-story glass atrium entrance and the creation of CBCC’s official “front door.” A renovated South Plaza and valet and ride share drop-off area have already been completed outside (with a public art install still to come), and inside there’s a new security and staff entrance area and over 8,000 square foot of natural-light filled space in Grand Gallery. The former 9,000-seat arena was converted into Grand Hall – a 41,470 square foot multi-use event space with 36” waving wood ceilings. The project also includes a new kitchen, box office, restrooms, sensory room, and escalators.

“Thank you, Tulsa voters, for supporting this improvement to Cox Business Convention Center,” said Mayor G.T. Bynum. “This Vision Tulsa renovation brings our 20th century convention center into the 21st century, with updated design and functionality. This improved and expanded facility will help Tulsa attract top quality events and conventions to our world-class city.”

The $55 million project was funded by Vision Tulsa with a development team including MATRIX Architects Engineers Planners, Inc., Forest for the Trees, and Tulsa Vision Builders.

“I am grateful for the support Tulsa votes have given to important Vision Tulsa projects like this,” City Council Chairman Ben Kimbro said. “Their forward-thinking investment in Cox Business Convention Center will allow Tulsa to compete for conventions and other events previously unavailable to us.”

CBCC provides over $30 million in economic impact to Tulsa annually and hosts visitors from around the country. The venue has been recognized as an EXHIBITOR “2020 Center of Excellence” and deemed a top 20 convention center in North America, as well as just winning Tulsa People’s 2020 Reader’s Choice Award for “Best Event Venue.” With the renovation the venue now offers over 275,000 square foot of event space and provides conference attendees with a seamless flow while allowing CBCC to host large events, sport events, and social galas concurrently.

“We’re grateful for all of the city partners and supporters who have brought this idea to life and provided Cox Business Convention Center with a greater connectivity to our downtown neighbors and spaces to better accommodate our clients, guests, and staff,” said CBCC Assistant General Manager Angie Teel, CMP.

Holly Beal is Marketing & Communications Manager for ASM/Cox Business Convention Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Photo: Mayor G.T. Bynum, Councilor Phil Lakin, and Angie Teel, CMP.