- Denmark-based ISS, one of the world’s largest facilities management companies, is expanding its full-service offerings across three US regions.
- ISS employs 350K globally, with 20K in North America, managing 350M SF across 13K sites.
- The push aligns with increased return-to-office trends, as CEOs seek to improve the workplace experience.
ISS, one of the world’s largest facilities management firms, is expanding its US operations, targeting integrated services amid rising return-to-office trends, according to Bisnow.
Expanding US Footprint
ISS, the Copenhagen-based facilities management giant, is ramping up its presence in the US. The company, ranked among the top three global facilities management providers by headcount, has reorganized its North American operations to provide integrated services—including custodial, HVAC, electrical, and workplace management—across three US regions.
With 350K employees worldwide and 20K in North America, ISS currently manages 350M SF across 13K sites. While that footprint is sizable, it trails competitors like Cushman & Wakefield (CWK), which oversees 600M SF in the region.
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Hospitality Focus
A key component of ISS’s US strategy is bundling hard services, like maintenance and repairs, with soft services, such as cleaning and workspace management. The company is also integrating its food services division, acquired through the 2017 purchase of Guckenheimer.
Joe Stolarski, president of ISS North America’s eastern division, emphasized the company’s hospitality-driven approach, which aims to enhance the workplace experience as return-to-office (RTO) mandates rise.
RTO Driving Demand
The timing aligns with a broader shift back to the office. According to a KPMG survey, over 80% of CEOs plan to call employees back this year. Kastle’s Back to Work Barometer shows office usage reaching 54.1% of pre-pandemic levels across the top 10 US metros, up 6.5% from December.
Some employers are offering incentives to ease the transition. Tech startup Cameo, for example, is offering employees a $10K raise, plus transportation and fitness perks, for returning to its Chicago office four days a week.
With Class-A offices outperforming less-amenitized spaces in occupancy and leasing activity, ISS’s focus on hospitality-driven facilities management positions it to capture market share in a competitive landscape.
