Russian developer APRI and Cosmos Hotel Group have signed an agreement to develop a new hotel at the Fanpark all-season resort near Chelyabinsk, marking the first partnership between APRI and a federal hotel operator.
The agreement was signed during the International Tourism Forum “Travel!”, which took place from June 10 to 14 at Moscow’s VDNH exhibition centre.
Cosmos Smart brand selected for Fanpark resort
Under the agreement, the new country hotel will operate under the Cosmos Smart brand and will be managed according to the standards and operational systems of Cosmos Hotel Group, one of Russia’s largest hotel operators.
The property, known as Cosmos Smart Chelyabinsk Fanpark Hotel, will feature 456 rooms across four accommodation clusters. The development will include a mix of apartment-style units, guest houses and double-standard rooms located near the resort’s water park.
The total project area will exceed 18,500 square metres.
The hotel will be built within the Fanpark resort complex in the village of Zapadny, located in the Sosnovsky district on the shores of the Shershnevsky Reservoir. The resort is situated approximately 15 minutes by car from central Chelyabinsk.
Opening planned by 2030
Construction of the hotel is expected to be completed by the end of 2030 as part of the broader Fanpark development project.
In addition to accommodation facilities, the resort will include a water park, thermal complex, sports infrastructure and other leisure attractions designed to position Fanpark as a year-round tourism destination.
Federal hospitality standards and marketing support
As part of the franchise agreement, Cosmos Hotel Group will provide operational expertise, hotel standards, staff training and pre-opening support. The property will also join the company’s centralized reservation platform, sales network and loyalty programme.
The partnership represents a significant step for APRI as it expands its hospitality portfolio and seeks to attract visitors from across Russia.
“Fanpark is conceived as a resort that attracts visitors from all over the country, and a partner of the same scale is natural here,” said Pavel Krutolapov, Chief Executive Officer of APRI.
“Cosmos Hotel Group brings proven standards of hospitality and quality to the project, while we provide the site, infrastructure and construction expertise. For guests, this means predictable service quality and professional hotel operations under a strong national brand.”
Growing domestic tourism focus
The project reflects continued investment in domestic tourism infrastructure across Russia, particularly in regions seeking to develop year-round leisure destinations beyond the country’s major metropolitan areas.
For Cosmos Hotel Group, the agreement further strengthens its presence in the regional hospitality market while expanding the Cosmos Smart brand portfolio into new resort destinations.
