Mamison welcomed over 35,000 guests in its first winter.

The new ski resort in North Ossetia has completed its first full ski season. Over the course of nearly four and a half months, Mamison's cable cars welcomed over 35,000 guests. The ski season began at the resort on December 31st last year, and the slopes remained in shape until the end of the May holidays. During peak winter holiday periods, the resort welcomed up to 1,500 skiers per day.

The ski season at the resort lasted 132 days. In the 2025/2026 season, 19 km of slopes of all difficulty levels were open to guests, and gondola and chairlifts reached an altitude of 3,000 meters. At the beginning and towards the end of the season, an artificial snowmaking system, equipped on most of Mamison's slopes, helped maintain a high-quality snow cover.

"During its first full season, the resort passed its most important test: we managed to ensure the stable operation of the slopes and lifts throughout the winter, despite the changeable weather. We closely monitored guest feedback: the most common positives they cited were not only the unique width of the slopes and the opportunity to ski in the big mountains while the area is uncrowded, but also the quality of the slopes. This is understandable: although the resort is new, the maintenance team and rescuers at Mamison are true professionals, having all completed training at Elbrus," said Andrey Yumshanov, General Director of Kavkaz.RF.

During the season, residents added over 100 accommodations to the resort, bringing the total to 280. A new service center, the heart of the resort, opened its doors in the central square. It houses a rental shop, a store, a storage room, a restaurant, and the new Kalak Hotel. On weekends, guests enjoyed open-air parties hosted by residents, and an art program was also in full swing: photography workshops, book-making workshops, sketching from life under the artist's guidance, and waiting out the bad weather with books from the "By Syllables" project.

After the winter season ended, the resort continued to operate as a recreational facility: a cable car was opened for guests, taking them to the best views of Mamison. Down in the gorge, spring has already arrived—early flowers have appeared, photogenic designer lounge chairs have been installed in the main square, and hikes are available along the eco-trail to Lisri. It is planned that the "Slow Life Workshops" will continue to operate on Saturdays this summer, along with a contemporary art exhibition. Once the snow melts, 33 kilometers of eco-trails will be open to guests.

The Mamison resort was built and managed by the Kavkaz.RF development institute. The project is part of a systematic effort to develop the tourism infrastructure of the North Caucasus Federal District. The resort opened on March 14, 2025. Since its opening, Mamison has welcomed approximately 100,000 guests.

The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation oversees its operations. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak oversees the North Caucasus Federal District within the Russian Government.

The ski season at Mamison closes on May 12.

Last year, the slopes were open until the end of April; this year, thanks to the weather, they'll be open until almost mid-May.

A business intensive for young entrepreneurs will be held at Mamison this fall.

Kavkaz.RF signed a cooperation agreement with the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs. This will result in a forum for young entrepreneurs at the Mamison resort. The business intensive is planned for this fall, with applications starting in May. Russian entrepreneurs aged 18 to 35 are eligible to participate. The best projects will receive investment and media support.

The event, part of KIF's Youth Day, was presented by Rustam Tapayev, Deputy General Director of Kavkaz.RF, and Dmitry Litvin, Director of the Center for Assistance to Young Professionals.

"We will select 50 people for the intensive course at Mamison, where we will immerse them in our work, show them the resort's infrastructure, and introduce them to the nuances of creating a ski cluster. This is not a format where we teach young people how to run a business; it is intended to foster co-creation and dialogue. Our main goal for the participants is to create projects that will generate a stable year-round tourist flow. "A fresh perspective, digital competencies, and an understanding of new trends—all this reveals hidden growth opportunities that aren't always apparent to large businesses from afar," explained Rustam Tapayev.

According to the project's concept, young entrepreneurs are offered two participation scenarios: as a resident of a special economic zone (SEZ) or as an employee or operational leader of one of Kavkaz.RF's destinations. The target can be any Kavkaz.RF resort—Elbrus, Mamison, or Veduchi.

Within these tracks, teams are faced with five key tasks: developing an all-season activity program at the resort, developing a digital platform for tourists, creating a concept for large-scale events at the resort, developing infrastructure for family vacations, and developing a loyalty program for regular guests.

"We're offering not just an educational forum, but a five-day 'field' product intensive course." "Teams immerse themselves in the resort's real-world environment, conduct on-site audits, and, within a few days, assemble viable business models ready for implementation and attracting real traffic," explained Dmitry Litvin.

A meeting of off-road tour operators took place at Mamison.

The bonuses offered to wholesalers by partnering with the resort were discussed. Participants were also shown venues for master classes, lectures, and theme parties, as well as cable cars and other facilities.

The resort hosted the grand opening of the North Ossetian State University "Alania" student sports club.

Representatives of the university, the sports community, and distinguished guests participated in the ceremony, including Tamerlan Tmenov, a five-time European judo champion.

Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Education of the Russian Federation, also congratulated the students on the club's opening.

From an altitude of 2,950 meters, the students descended en masse: smoke bombs and flags transformed the slope into a truly festive scene.

The Moon Base café (at the Astro Base complex) hosted ethnic-themed workshops, immersing the students in the atmosphere of the mountains and handicrafts.

Guests tried their hand at oil painting, created jewelry, and assembled handmade souvenirs.

Starting March 23, the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania Transport Committee will launch daily shuttles between Vladikavkaz and Mamison.

Previously, the shuttle only ran on weekends.

Departure from Vladikavkaz, Osetinsky Teatr bus stop, Kosta Avenue – 8:00 AM

Return from the resort's main parking lot – 4:30 PM

The cost is 200 rubles. Reservations are not required – boarding occurs as soon as the shuttle fills up. The minibus seats 16.

At Mamison, as part of the "Slow Life Workshop," a discussion with Daria Sukhovskaya about signs and symbols in art will take place.

Daria Sukhovskaya, a PhD candidate in philosophy and soon-to-be professor, will speak about art without complex formulations, with a genuine interest in people and profound questions.

The event will take place on March 28.

Starting March 17, ski passes at the Mamison resort are available for half price.

The price will be 1,400 rubles for adults and 800 rubles for children (6-13). The same prices apply to walking passes.

Mamison celebrates its first anniversary.

On March 14, the Mamison ski resort turned one year old. In this short time, this project of the Kavkaz.RF development institute has experienced a lifespan that takes many projects years: from its first ski run to more than 65,000 guests.

Mamison immediately showed its character: unpredictable mountain weather, wide pistes, festivals, glossy magazine cover shoots, and a massive light show that transformed the mountain slope into a grand stage for one evening. Among the guests were not only skiers and mountain hikers. In its first year, Mamison became a venue for cultural events, bringing together a wide variety of audiences.

"The main goal, which we managed to achieve, was to make the resort an all-season resort." We've created modern infrastructure, built a domestically produced cable car, and thought through ways to attract a wide range of guests: families with children, active recreation enthusiasts, artists, and those seeking peace and quiet in the mountains. The program of events is scheduled throughout the year, from sports to cultural projects," noted Andrey Yumshanov, CEO of Kavkaz.RF.

Today, winter Mamison boasts 19 kilometers of ski slopes. Here, you can spend the day on the slopes and in the evening visit the "Slow Life Workshop"—a place for socializing, creating, and meeting with artists amidst the mountains. Guests can choose from three accommodation options: the dolomite lodges "Bayray" and "Mamison," the capsule cottages "AstroBase," or the "Kalak" hotel, located just two minutes from the cable car. The resort has a total capacity of 200 beds.

In summer, Mamison becomes the perfect place for long walks and discoveries: 15 kilometers of scenic eco-trails, slopes covered with snowdrops and rhododendrons, a campground, and ancient villages all around. In its first year, the area hosted an art festival, a trail-building festival, a chamber orchestra concert at an altitude of 2,950 meters, and a high-altitude trail.

The project also received several professional awards: the All-Russian Investment Award "Vershina" for tourism development, the national "Mountains of Russia" award in the "Discovery of the Year" category, the "Silver Archer" award in the "Creative Industries" category, and the Ski Business Awards for "Best Promotion."

This year, guests can expect a rich program: an art festival, a film festival, and sporting events. Upcoming plans include opening a contemporary art exhibition space and participating with a large prototype stand at the Caucasus Investment Forum.

On March 7, a literary event will take place at Mamison. It will be led by Anna Yanchevskaya and Victoria Malakhova (Kim), the creators of the "By Syllables" project. They run the "Word Circle" and also organize literary retreats.

The hosts will discuss the culture of slow reading: how to concentrate, where to focus, and how to better understand yourself through text.

The event will take place at the Grand Galabu restaurant.

A culinary master class will be held at "Mamison" as part of "Master's slow life". It will be hosted by Marina Kozonova - chef of restaurants Mercada Group ("Khohag", "Hidikus Aul"). The author of all gastronomic dinners at Mamison.

Marina Kozonova constantly tries new things, gets fired up with ideas and immediately turns them into projects. S ней кухня is a living process, not a script. Total slowdown is in the plans. working with fire, cooking in silence, choosing quality instead of speed.

Each guest cooks his author's potion - berries in a decoction of mountain herbs. Trout will be cooked on the street. On dessert napoleon.

On February 21st, a life sketching workshop will be held at Mamison as part of the "Slow Life Workshop." It will be held in the resort's future gallery and will be led by Sergey Mikhitarov, a photographer and artist from Pyatigorsk.

Participants will learn to work with a model, capturing character and movement. The goal will be to create a quick drawing—without excessive perfectionism, but with attention to detail.

Mamison invites you to a new workshop on creating a handmade book.

On Saturday, February 14, the resort will host a workshop on creating a zine—a hand-made publication featuring personal impressions of a mountain vacation. Enrollment is currently open.

The workshop will be led by Polina Likhacheva, editor of the resort's channel and organizer of blog tours, an art festival, and other creative events at Mamison.

"A zine is a personalized mini-magazine. Participants will experience the entire process from scratch: from the idea and text to images, layout, and hand-assembly, printing their favorite photos, assembling collages, trying linocuts, and making their own stamps," explains the author.

The "Slow Life Workshop" project launched on February 7. It is a series of intimate events at various locations throughout the resort, designed to immerse participants in creativity, new skills, and a slower pace in the beautiful Mamison Gorge.

Registration for the first meeting with photographer Rada Sadygova closed within the first few hours. The conceptual photography workshop attracted 20 participants from Vladikavkaz, Nalchik, Pyatigorsk, Grozny, Makhachkala, and even St. Petersburg. Tatyana from St. Petersburg came for her birthday, looking for a new experience. Gulshat came with her husband: he to go skiing, and she to relax.

Among the participants were both professional photographers and those who only shoot with their phones. They shared one common thread: the desire to see and feel more.

"Rebooting, slowing down, and a creative boost—it all happened. When you take pictures, you feel like you're outside of time," the participants shared.

The project organizers—the Kavkaz.RF communications team—are planning a culinary meeting with Mercada chef Marina Kozonova, a bookshelf opening from the "Po Slogam" project by Anna Yanchevskaya and Victoria Malakhova (Kim), and musical and creative experiments.

A new trail, codenamed 1A, has opened at the Mamison resort.

Almost 4 km of red-level speed runs, located under the gondola lift. This high-speed run will take you directly to Kalak Square. This option is for experienced riders. The best place to learn and perfect your technique is near the Mamihdon chairlift station on the green trail 3A.

The Bayray, Mamison complex now boasts new two-bedroom chalets with a sauna and a panoramic restaurant with bas-reliefs of sleds.

Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak held a meeting on labor productivity in tourism at the Mamison resort.

At the meeting, attended by North Ossetia Head Sergey Menyailo, Deputy Plenipotentiary Representative in the district Vladimir Nadykto, Deputy Ministers of Economic Development Sergey Nazarov and Dmitry Vakhrukov, as well as the leadership of Kavkaz.RF, a pilot program to increase labor productivity in tourism was presented. It was developed at the end of December last year.

The president has set an ambitious goal of increasing the growth rate of labor productivity in the country. In the context of a labor shortage, this is a key factor in improving efficiency and redistributing the workforce to high-productivity sectors. Tourism has significant potential for such a leap forward, the deputy prime minister emphasized.

The implementation of this program will be handled by the industry competence center (ICC) in the field of tourism, created on the basis of Kavkaz.RF. The first successful projects are already in place — hoteliers themselves told Alexander Novak about them.

As a result of working with the ICC, the time required to completely clean a room at the five-star Mayri Park Hotel in Arkhyz was reduced by 24 minutes, rooms were ready for check-in an hour earlier, and guest complaints about room cleanliness/amenities ceased.

Employee engagement has increased significantly. People realized that they were not working more, but simply doing the same work as before more easily and quickly. The system for submitting suggestions for improvements allows employees to see that their ideas are visible, taken into account, and not lost somewhere in a paper trail. Optimization has allowed us to consider that with the further implementation of the proposed tools, the work of preparing a cottage for occupancy without loss of quality and time can be done by two employees instead of three, as is currently the case. This will allow us to clean more cottages at the same time, which is very important during peak periods, says Elena Kotova, general manager of the hotel.

One of the mechanisms for increasing labor productivity is “boxed solutions” — well-developed algorithms for changing the most routine and important hotel processes. These include: laundry turnover, room preparation and setup, guest reservations and accommodation, and buffet organization.

Another mechanism is targeted support for those lagging behind. Here, experts will focus primarily on health resorts and amusement parks, where, according to research, labor productivity is lowest and there is a lack of ready-made solutions due to the specific nature of each facility. Interestingly, the productivity of travel agencies and tour operators, on the contrary, exceeds the industry average, so this target group receives less attention in the program.

The personnel issue is also relevant for the Mamison resort, which opened last year and was built by Kavkaz.RF. The cluster became the first major state infrastructure project in the mountains after the introduction of European sanctions on cable car manufacturers. Currently, Mamison has two cable cars and 10 km of trails. The tourist flow in 2025 was 40,000 people, and in January of this year, it was 10,000 tourists.

Our experience gained at other resorts built by the company helps us resolve all the “teething problems” of the new facility. For example, the rescue and avalanche rescue services were trained by the nationally renowned Elbrus team, and the OCK is implementing the expertise gained at large resorts with a tourist flow of 7, 000-10 ,000 guests per day. We pay great attention to continuity and feedback from guests. This is a continuous process of improvement, where we cannot stop for a single day,

notes Andrey Yumshanov, CEO of Kavkaz.RF.

The implementation of the entire set of measures provided for in the program will increase labor productivity by 23% by 2030 compared to 2024. In real terms, this will increase the added value in four “tourist” areas by 179.4 billion rubles.

The first master class of the Slow Life Workshop was held in Mamison—a conceptual photography shoot with Rada Sadigova.

Twenty participants gathered from Vladikavkaz, Nalchik, Pyatigorsk, Grozny, Makhachkala, and even St. Petersburg.

Each had their own route to the mountains and photography.

Tatyana from St. Petersburg came on her birthday for a new experience. Gulshat came with her husband: he to ride, she to relax.

Among the participants were both professional photographers and those who only take pictures on their phones. They were united by one thing: the desire to see and feel more.

“Rebooting, slowing down, and creative energy — it all happened. When you take pictures, it's as if you're outside of time,” the participants shared.

It was a powerful start — and this is only the beginning. Workshops will be held every Saturday: zines, sketches, literary meetings — everything about attention and process.