ICSC
ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) is a U.S. nonprofit member organization founded in 1937 that serves commercial real estate marketplaces professionals with annual conferences (ICSC LAS VEGAS, ICSC NEW YORK, RETAIL FORWARD regional series), networking and job platforms (Talent HQ, Networking Platform), research, and the ICSC+PROPTECH event for proptech adoption.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1937
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ICSC does
ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc.) is a U.S. nonprofit member organization founded in 1937 and headquartered in New York City, with a secondary office in Washington, D.C. It serves the commercial real estate marketplaces industry — defined to include retail real estate developers, owners, brokers, investors, retailers, and service providers — and reports a community of up to 70,000 members across the U.S. and Canada. ICSC operates as a trade association and industry platform rather than a software product company. Governance is by an elected board, with John Peter (JP) Suarez serving as 2026 Chairman and Conor Flynn as Vice Chairman, alongside President & CEO Tom McGee.
ICSC's operating model is built on three interrelated revenue streams: (1) recurring membership dues across professional and student tiers, (2) event registration and sponsorship revenue anchored by ICSC LAS VEGAS (25,000+ attendees) and supplemented by ICSC NEW YORK and the regional RETAIL FORWARD series (Nashville, Colorado, New England), and (3) professional development, certification, and webinar revenue. Its product surface includes the ICSC Networking Platform (member directory and pre-event matchmaking), Talent HQ (job board with resume and career resources), Marketplaces IQ (commercial real estate analytics powered by Narrpr), and the C+CT (Commerce + Communities Today) industry publication. The ICSC Foundation, including ICSC Foundation Canada, runs Launch Academy, mentorship, and $210,000+ annual scholarship programs.
In 2025–2026 ICSC is executing a strategic shift toward proptech ecosystem leadership. It partnered with McKinsey & Company in 2025 to publish agentic commerce research projecting $1 trillion in U.S. B2C retail revenue by 2030, then launched ICSC+PROPTECH in May 2026 alongside ICSC LAS VEGAS to connect CRE decision-makers with technology founders through a VIP Technology Buyers Program, and introduced the annual ICSC Tech Innovator Awards. Adjacent activities include government relations and policy advocacy (ICSC PAC, Organized Retail Crime initiatives), the Industry Inclusion & Engagement Center, and university partnerships for talent development.
ICSC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ICSC
- Legal name
- International Council of Shopping Centers, Inc.
- Website
- https://icsc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1937
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) is a U.S. nonprofit member organization founded in 1937 that serves commercial real estate marketplaces professionals with annual conferences (ICSC LAS VEGAS, ICSC NEW YORK, RETAIL FORWARD regional series), networking and job platforms (Talent HQ, Networking Platform), research, and the ICSC+PROPTECH event for proptech adoption.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where ICSC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
ICSC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Membership Dues: ICSC operates as a member organization with various membership types and pricing tiers. Membership provides access to events, networking platforms, industry insights, professional development, and member directory.
- Event Registration and Sponsorship: Revenue generated from conferences and events including ICSC LAS VEGAS, ICSC+PROPTECH, ICSC RETAIL FORWARD series, and ICSC NEW YORK. Sponsorships and exhibit space sales at these events contribute to revenue.
- Professional Development Programs: Revenue from educational programs, webinars, professional development courses, and certifications for industry professionals.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Professional Membership for industry practitioners |
| Subscription | Annual | Student Membership |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
ICSC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ICSC is a nonprofit member organization that delivers value to commercial real estate and marketplaces industry professionals through paid membership subscriptions, large-scale in-person industry conferences (ICSC LAS VEGAS, ICSC NEW YORK, ICSC RETAIL FORWARD series, ICSC+PROPTECH), online networking and career platforms (Networking Platform, Talent HQ, Marketplaces IQ analytics), industry research publications (C+CT), and professional development programs. It also operates the affiliated ICSC Foundation which administers scholarships, mentorships, and the Launch Academy for emerging talent.
Product overview
ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) is a member organization for the advancement of the Marketplaces Industry. Its portfolio includes major annual conferences (ICSC LAS VEGAS, ICSC NEW YORK, regional RETAIL FORWARD events), the new ICSC+PROPTECH event connecting commercial real estate with technology innovators, the Marketplaces IQ analytics platform, an ICSC Networking Platform for professional connections, and Talent HQ for career resources. The ICSC Foundation supports education through Launch Academy, scholarships ($210K+ annually), mentorship programs, and the iPrep internship program. C+CT (Commerce + Communities Today) provides industry news coverage, and the ICSC Tech Innovator Awards recognizes innovation in commercial real estate technology.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ICSC+PROPTECH: Event connecting commercial real estate decisionmakers with technology founders
- ICSC RETAIL FORWARD
- Commerce + Communities Today (C+CT)
- Talent HQ
- Industry Inclusion & Engagement Center
- ICSC Foundation Mentorship Program
- ICSC Launch Academy
- iPrep
- ICSC Foundation
- Marketplaces IQ
Products and services
- ICSC+PROPTECH A premier in-person event connecting commercial real estate decision-makers with technology founders and solution providers, featuring AI-driven leasing tools, smart building solutions, property management software, and tenant engagement platforms, and including a VIP Technology Buyers Program for curated senior buyer-seller meetings. Targeted at enterprise CRE buyers and proptech vendors.
- ICSC Annual and Regional Conferences Major industry conferences including ICSC LAS VEGAS (25,000+ attendees), ICSC NEW YORK, ICSC@NEW ENGLAND, ICSC RETAIL FORWARD NASHVILLE, and ICSC RETAIL FORWARD COLORADO, providing dealmaking opportunities, networking, and professional development for commercial real estate professionals.
- Marketplaces IQ Commercial real estate analytics platform powered by Narrpr, providing market data insights, property maps, and intelligence to support business decisions for ICSC members.
- ICSC Networking Platform Professional networking platform enabling ICSC members to connect before and during events, featuring member directory access and business partner matching for commercial real estate professionals.
- Talent HQ Comprehensive job board and career platform for commercial real estate professionals, offering resume posting, job alerts, a career learning center, resume writing, and career coaching resources for job seekers and employers in the marketplaces industry.
- C+CT (Commerce + Communities Today) Industry news publication covering the latest trends and news for the Marketplaces Industry, delivered as a content/editorial resource to ICSC members and the broader retail real estate community.
- Professional Development Programs Educational programs, webinars, professional development courses, and certifications for commercial real estate industry professionals, delivered both online and at ICSC events.
- iPrep (Internship Preparation Program) Internship preparatory program providing ICSC Student Members with building blocks, the ICSC Career Connections internship hub, and access to ICSC Launch Academy for career development within the marketplaces industry.
Companies that use ICSC
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ICSC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature3 records
ICSC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Phillips Edison & CompanyminorWinner of inaugural ICSC Tech Innovator Awards in the Adaptive Asset category, recognized for contributions to technology innovation in commercial real estate.
- FYXTminorWinner of inaugural ICSC Tech Innovator Awards in the Unified Stack category, recognized for contributions to technology innovation in commercial real estate.
- VECKTAminorWinner of inaugural ICSC Tech Innovator Awards in the Retail Rookie category, recognized for contributions to technology innovation in commercial real estate.
- McKinsey & CompanycoreICSC partnered with McKinsey & Company to produce research on agentic commerce in the U.S. B2C retail market. The joint report forecasts that agentic commerce could reach $1 trillion in revenue by 2030, driven by rising AI adoption among shoppers. The partnership provides authoritative industry research and market intelligence for ICSC members and the broader retail real estate industry.
- University Partner SchoolscoreICSC's University Partnerships Program connects with select university partner schools to identify students for the Launch Academy internship preparation program and scholarship opportunities, developing the next generation of retail real estate talent.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights7 records
ICSC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- BOMA International: Trade association for building owners and managers. Comparable to ICSC as a CRE-focused member organization with conferences, education, and advocacy, though BOMA's focus is more on operations than retail dealmaking.
- SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors): Professional association for industrial and office real estate brokers. Comparable to ICSC as a member-based CRE organization offering credentials, networking, and dealmaking support for a specific CRE vertical.
- ULI (Urban Land Institute): Global research and education organization for land use and real estate. Comparable to ICSC in serving CRE professionals with member events, research, and policy advocacy, though with a broader land-use remit.
- NAIOP: The principal U.S. association for commercial real estate developers, owners, and investors. Directly comparable to ICSC as a member-based trade association serving the CRE industry with conferences, research, and advocacy.
- CoreNet Global: Association for corporate real estate and workplace professionals. Comparable to ICSC as a member-driven CRE organization with major events, research, and credentialing programs serving a related but distinct audience.
- CCIM Institute: Commercial real estate association best known for the CCIM designation. Comparable to ICSC in serving CRE practitioners with credentials, networking, and education, though more focused on investment analysis.
- IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management): International association for real estate management professionals. Comparable to ICSC as a membership organization serving CRE practitioners with credentials, education, and industry resources.
Broad incumbents
- CoStar Group: Dominant CRE data and analytics provider (CoStar, LoopNet, Apartments.com). Comparable to ICSC's Marketplaces IQ data business as a CRE intelligence platform, though CoStar is a for-profit incumbent with substantially greater scale.
Emerging players
- CREtech: PropTech-focused event and content platform. Comparable to ICSC's emerging ICSC+PROPTECH franchise as a community connecting CRE professionals with technology vendors, but a specialist platform.
Regional players
- RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors): Global professional body for real estate and land professionals. Comparable to ICSC as a CRE member organization with credentials and standards, but with a primary international (UK-origin) footprint versus ICSC's North American focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
ICSC social profiles
Digital presenceICSC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ICSC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
ICSC subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
ICSC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ICSC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ICSC
What does ICSC do?
ICSC is a nonprofit member organization that delivers value to commercial real estate and marketplaces industry professionals through paid membership subscriptions, large-scale in-person industry conferences (ICSC LAS VEGAS, ICSC NEW YORK, ICSC RETAIL FORWARD series, ICSC+PROPTECH), online networking and career platforms (Networking Platform, Talent HQ, Marketplaces IQ analytics), industry research publications (C+CT), and professional development programs. It also operates the affiliated ICSC Foundation which administers scholarships, mentorships, and the Launch Academy for emerging talent.
Is ICSC a public or private company?
ICSC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was ICSC founded?
ICSC was founded in 1937. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is ICSC based?
ICSC is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does ICSC make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Dues are the primary driver. The others are event Registration and Sponsorship and professional Development Programs.
Who are ICSC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are BOMA International, SIOR (Society of Industrial and Office Realtors), ULI (Urban Land Institute), NAIOP, CoreNet Global, CCIM Institute and IREM (Institute of Real Estate Management). CoStar Group is listed as a broad incumbent. CREtech is listed as an emerging player. RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is listed as a regional player.
Does ICSC have an API?
No public API is recorded for ICSC.