( CNN ) -- There 's a new group of travelers in town -- and it hardly matters which town you 're talking about . Russian travelers are increasingly booking trips abroad , and hotels and touring companies are working overtime to win their patronage . In 2012 , Russian tourists spent $ 43 billion abroad -- making them the fifth highest-spending segment of the travel industry . Last year , nearly 40 million Russians traveled overseas ( only 8 million journeyed in 2006 ) . That number is likely to expand , and quickly ; Russians are the world 's second-fastest growing group of tourists . The supercharged growth can be attributed to a steadily growing middle class ( projected to rise 16 % between now and 2020 ) , and the fact that access to the world beyond the former Soviet borders is still fairly novel . Read this : Can airlines make money from their maps . `` The Russian visitor explosion has been so fast that perhaps some hoteliers still have n't quite picked up on it , '' says Matt Walls , vice president of Hotels.com -- a booking site that recently released a global survey on Russian tourists . `` Now is the time ( for them to do so ) , because unless you can cater to the needs of Russian customers , they 'll go and stay somewhere else , '' he adds . The InterContinental Hotel Group is one company that invested early and heavily in their Russian guests , introducing Russian-language websites , call centers and mobile apps . `` Russia is one of the largest outbound markets in the world -- equivalent to a country like France , but growing almost as fast as China , '' says Matt Luscombe , the InterContinental 's senior vice president of sales and marketing . Read this : Landing at the world 's busiest airport . Catering to new market . According to Visit Britain , hotel managers in London -- one of the top ten destinations Russians visit when on vacation -- have started introducing amenities to deal specifically with this segment . At the Jumeirah Carlton Towers , special menus cater to Russian tastes and Russian-language shopping guides help guests navigate the city 's department stores . At the Corinthia Hotel , Russian-speaking butlers have been added to the staff . `` If you asked me three years ago , I 'd say we did n't have any Russian guests . Now , we have some every single weekend and weekday , '' notes Alvaro Rey , general manager of London 's InterContinental Park Lane . `` This being a new market , you have to start adapting to them : What are their needs ? How should we handle them ? What types of room do they like ? How do they like to be addressed ? '' For the companies that do succeed in winning over this newest segment , the rewards can be sizable . Russian guests tend to spend 20 % to 30 % above the average room rate , according to Hotels.com , and they can rack up a sizable food and beverage bill . `` On the plus side , Russians are seen as high-spending . They bring a lot of cash with them , '' says Walls , who adds that Russians tend to enjoy a drink or two . `` The bar bill benefits quite significantly when Russians are traveling . ''
Nearly 40 million Russians traveled overseas last year . In 2012 , Russians spent $ 43 billion abroad . Many hotel groups have adjusted their offerings to cater to Russian guests . Russians are the world 's second fastest growing tourism segment .