Hotel operator Marriott International is looking to double its European portfolio from 40,000 to 80,000 rooms by 2015.

The group has placed a strong focus on new development in Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and is planning to grow its existing portfolio in the region by more than 50 per cent, to 30 hotels by 2015.

Marriott currently operates 19 hotels in Russia and the CIS and has committed to opening an additional 11 hotels over the next three years. It operates six brands across Russia and the CIS including the Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott and Marriott Executive Apartments.

The new hotels will include the Ritz-Carlton in Almaty, Kazakhstan and Krasnodar, Russia; and the Renaissance Kiev hotel in Ukraine.

Carlton Ervin, chief development officer for Marriott in Europe, said: "We are very focused on our development here and have augmented our development resources to enable us to meet our ambitious growth objectives for Russia and the CIS. We see particular opportunity in the capital cities for our luxury and live style brands."