Hyatt Regency Riyadh bags global hygiene accreditation

Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya has become the first hotel in Saudi Arabia and one of the first hotels in the Middle East to be accredited by Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) STAR in September. GBAC is the gold standard for prepared facilities, and the accreditation further enhances the operational guidance and resources around colleague and guest safety at the hotel.

The accreditation builds on the Hyatt brand’s existing rigorous protocols, colleague training, support resources and a cross-functional working group of medical experts and industry professionals that contribute to various aspects of the hotel experience. Under the guidance of GBAC, a division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya has implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention in its facility.

“The world as we knew it has been changed by COVID-19, and when our guests are ready to travel again, we want to ensure them that they can feel confident that each aspect of our commitment is designed with their safety in mind, and that we’re putting their well-being first,” said Walid El-Awadly, general manager. “To do this, we must critically examine the hotel experience from every vantage point and think about what matters the most from our guests’ point of view — from rooms and lobby to spa and dining — bringing in the latest research, technology and innovations to make that happen. The GBAC accreditation is an important hygiene and cleanliness milestone, marking our purpose to care for people so they can be their best — always.”

The hotel received its GBAC STAR accreditation through a performance-based cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention program that focuses on establishing that the hotel environment is sanitary, safe and healthy.

“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, Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya has received third-party validation that it follows strict protocols for biorisk situations, thereby demonstrating its preparedness and commitment to operating safely,” she added. Furthermore, the hotel intends to complement this accreditation with regular internal and third-party auditing.

Composed of international leaders in the field of microbial-pathogenic threat analysis, mitigation, response, and recovery, the GBAC 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.

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 Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya implements best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from outbreaks and pandemics.