ABS Quality Evaluations and Kiwa Launch COVID-19 Preventive Measures Standard for Hospitality Industry

ABS Quality Evaluations Inc. (ABS QE), an ABS Group company, and Kiwa Nederland B.V. have collaborated to offer a new preventive measures standard to help the hospitality sector in the Americas reduce COVID-19 health and safety risk in occupied buildings.

Conformance to the new COVID-19 Preventive Measures Standard provides businesses with demonstrated confidence that they have followed all recommended guidance in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and any state-specific requirements to control and manage health risks in a pandemic environment.

The ABS QE-Kiwa alliance piloted the new Standard at Spring Place, a shared workspace and entertainment facility located in Beverly Hills, California. A globally accredited certification provider, ABS QE evaluated whether Spring Place had adopted a system to identify and manage COVID-19 related hazards in accordance with the recommended guidance. Once an organization demonstrates conformance to the standard, Kiwa will issue the quality assurance mark verifying that there are processes and preventive measures in place to mitigate and reduce COVID-19 risks.

“Our auditing team is excited to partner with Kiwa to assure consumer confidence as the hospitality industry transitions to a new normal,” says ABS QE President Dominic Townsend. “There is a lot of uncertainty with consumers trusting that businesses are taking the necessary steps and precautions to identify the risks and demonstrate to all stakeholders that these risks have been controlled and managed in a planned manner. This new standard will help community spaces establish a risk-based approach using international best practices.”

“Kiwa’s solution will create clarity and trust among guests,” says Michael van der Vlies, Director at Kiwa N.V. “We have extensive experience carrying out quality assessments for the tourism, recreation, healthcare, sports and transportation sectors. Various organizations can adopt this new standard to demonstrate to customers, employees and other stakeholders that all recommended measures are being taken to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus.”

Learn more about the new Preventive Measures Standard: www.abs-group.com/kiwa-verified