Operators of conference centres, airports and stadiums in Canada are joining a global rush to be certified as pandemic-resistant while they compete for events that will bring billions of dollars in economic benefits to their host cities.

Convention centres in Edmonton and Calgary, along with Vancouver’s B.C. Place Stadium and Montreal’s Trudeau International Airport, have reported achieving GBAC Star accreditation international cleaning industry association ISSA.

Calgary Telus Convention Centre CEO Kurby Court says he is fielding booking inquiries for events to take place three or four years from now.

That’s potentially long after a vaccine for COVID-19 has been developed, but Court says clients still want to be reassured the city is safe before they commit to visiting.

The accreditation is designed to show training has taken place and there’s a proven system of cleaning, disinfection and disease prevention for staff and the building itself to head off biohazards like the novel coronavirus.

Illinois-based ISSA says its program has been adopted by more than 250 facilities and more than 3,000 more are seeking accreditation.