Already well established in the West, Starwood Hotels is now targeting emerging markets for new growth through its Westin, Sheraton and Le Méridien brands, with China proving particularly popular.

The real estate sector took a pounding in 2013, with record lows forecast for foreign investment on a global scale. But on a regional level, the Asia-Pacific is seeing increased investment in the sector in what is thought to be an emerging trend.  

Utah's reputation of being one of the US's more remote and less exciting states does not seem to have put off a number of multinational companies from establishing operations within its borders. Michal Kaczmarski looks at what it is that is attracting these firms to the state.

The central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan barely register in terms of global FDI share, making the presence of the IFC in the region all the more important. The corporation's director of Europe and central Asia tells Michal Kaczmarski how the IFC is helping these former Soviet republics make their voices heard.

With annual global spend on tourism in the gay community set to exceed an estimated $200bn in 2014, service providers and agencies are waking up to the potential of the pink dollar. 

Tourism is one of the largest industries in the world, attracting high levels of investment and creating millions of jobs. But what does it take to become a tourist hub, and is big investment alone enough to attract a mass influx of visitors?