Luxury hotel group Shangri-La has opened the doors to its first London property, nearly a decade after the project was first announced.
Shangri-La first confirmed plans for a hotel within the Shard skyscraper back in 2005, and the 202-room property finally opens to the public today, with Mayor Boris Johnson attending a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Guests will have to wait to experience some of the hotel’s facilities though. According to the group’s website, London’s highest champagne and cocktail bar - the 52nd-floor Gong - is scheduled to open on May 19, while the adjacent infinity pool (again London's highest) will open "this summer".
However facilities including Lang - the hotel’s ground floor patisserie and deli, and Ting – the 35th floor restaurant and lounge, both open today.
The hotel has also phased the introduction of guest room availability, with its three signature suites (located on floors 37 to 39) set to open later this year.
When fully operational, some 90 per cent of rooms will have views of The Thames, and room rates will start from £450.
Business Traveller had a preview of the Shangri-La at the Shard in March this year – for more information and a full rundown of the hotel’s facilities, click here.
Images of today’s opening event are due to be made available to the press later today, and will be added to this article in due course.
Mark Caswell
