Starwood has announced it is planning to focus its expansion in emerging markets, such Ukraine, Russia and Tajikistan, and is gearing up to launch a 196-bed hotel in the Ukraine capital, Kiev, in 2013.

Hosting the EURO 2012 Championships has given Ukraine a massive boost, attracting one million foreign visitors and giving the country's hotel industry a 30 per cent uplift. Property experts, Knight Frank, predict that other widely recognised hotel brands, such as Hilton, Renaissance Marriott and Radisson Blu will soon have a presence in Kiev.