Luxury hotel opens a year later than planned

Shangri-La Shard

The luxury Shangri-La hotel at the Shard in London has finally opened, a full year later than planned.

The hotel was opened by London mayor Boris Johnson and Lord Sebastian Coe at an opening ceremony which also featured an Far Eastern-inspired “awakening of the lion” and dance procession.

Shangri-La repeatedly delayed the launch of the hotel due to delays on the £40m fit-out.

The client originally intended to open the hotel in the second quarter of last year, but this was pushed back several times.

In September, fit-out delays caused Shangri-La to replace the contractor on the fit-out job, Sisk, with rival Chorus Group.

At the time a Sisk spokesperson said the firm was “looking forward to bringing [the] project to its completion but it was delayed for reasons out of our control”.

The Shangri-La at The Shard is the tallest hotel in Western Europe and the first high-rise hotel in London, occupying levels 34 to 52 of the 72-storey Shard.

Shangri-La president and chief executive Greg Dogan said: “The sweeping views from Shangri-La Hotel, At The Shard provide an entirely new perspective on London. 

“It is a spectacular setting in which to introduce our signature Asian-inspired hospitality to the U.K.”