VPS Achieves GBAC STAR Accreditation

We’re thrilled to announce that Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) has achieved the 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 Destin – Fort Walton Beach Airport has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its airport.

As the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation, GBAC STARTM helps organizations establish protocols and procedures, offers expert-led training and assesses a facility’s readiness for biorisk situations. The program verifies that the Destin – Fort Walton Beach Airport 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 Destin – Fort Walton Beach Airport has received third-party validation that it follows strict protocols for biorisk situations, thereby demonstrating its preparedness and commitment to operating safely.”

To achieve GBAC STARTM accreditation, the Destin – Fort Walton Beach Airport 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.

The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport is the fastest-growing airport in the United States, reported by Bloomberg over the last two years. “With this growth, even in a pandemic, comes the high responsibility to provide the best in clean and safe environments for our travelers, tenants and employees. It is the goal, routinely achieved on many fronts, of VPS to lead by example in our industry. The GBAC STAR Accreditation is a seal of approval on yet another goal achieved by the outstanding team at the Okaloosa County Airports” said Tracy Stage, Okaloosa County Airports Director.

“I am extremely proud of the attention to detail provided by the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport personnel that provides the safest environment for our visitors, which resulted in this achievement of the GBAC STAR Accreditation,” said Chairman Carolyn Ketchel of the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners.

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