Shangri-La at The Shard London delayed to May 2014
Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London will open May 6 2014, a year's delay after the initial scheduled opening date of March 2013, in the 306m-high tower.
Once opened, the property will hold the title of the tallest hotel in Western Europe and the first high-rise hotel in London. The 202-key hotel occupies levels 34-52 of the 72-storey Shard, with the guestrooms and suites from levels 36-50.
"Our continued expansion in Europe reflects the growth opportunities for the brand and portfolio," said Shangri-La president and CEO Greg Dogan.
He continued: "The Shard is a landmark synonymous with London and we hope to encourage visitors to our hotel, and the surrounding area. We are truly excited to be an integral part of the ongoing development of the South Bank community and the borough of Southwark."
The hotel, which is Shangri-La's third in Europe following Paris and Istanbul, has views of landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and the Houses of Parliament.
It has a dedicated entrance on St. Thomas Street, where a high-speed elevator will take guests to the sky lobby on level 35. Subtle Asian touches in the lobby and lobby lounge will reflect Shangri-La’s heritage, while modern and classic art with pieces from a mix of acclaimed Asian and British artists are showcased throughout public areas.
In addition, the rooms are amongst the largest in London. Because of The Shard’s spiral shape, each of the guestrooms and suites, which range from 30 to 188 square metres, is individual in layout and design.
All feature floor to ceiling windows and unrivalled views across the city, marble-clad bathrooms with heated floors, separate bathtubs, Acqua di Parma amenities and mirrors with integrated television screens. Over a third of these bathrooms have city views.
Deluxe, Premier and Grand Premier guestrooms and suites offer northerly views towards the City and London’s famous landmarks. Superior guestrooms and suites feature the south.
The hotel’s three signature suites will be unveiled in September 2014. All signature suites overlook St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and down river towards the O2 Arena.
The Shangri-La Suite on level 39 provides 180-degree views of London. From the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben to the Tower of London, the view encompasses the River Thames with the Canary Wharf, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Maritime Greenwich.
The hotel will feature three wining and dining venues. GŎNG, London’s highest bar on level 52, takes its name from 'dougong' – an ancient Chinese structural element of interlocking wooden brackets that will be a component of the bar’s interior.
TĪNG, derived from the Chinese word for a living room, is the signature restaurant and lounge on level 35 and LÁNG – the Chinese word for 'pathway' – is an artisan deli on the ground floor. Level 52 will also be home to a 24-hour gym and London’s highest infinity pool, and along with GŎNG, level 52 will open from July 1.
Three river-facing event spaces on level 34 offer stunning views and state-of-the-art conferencing technology along with catering services. The largest of the venues, Ren, accommodates up to 140 guests; the other two, Yi and Li, can hold up to 10 and 35 guests, respectively.
“We are thrilled to be opening our doors in May after a number of years of planning and preparation,” said Darren Gearing, executive vice president and hotel general manager of Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard, London.
“The hotel’s inspiring views will connect emotionally with guests, while our service hallmarks will position the hotel at the forefront of the world’s finest hotels.”
The venue will be open for advance rooms, events, restaurant and lounge bookings from 17 March, with opening room rates starting at US $738 (GB £450) per room per night, including VAT.