Shangri-La to Open First UK Hotel in Shard Building

The 18-storey hotel will contain 202 rooms and suites, all offering superb views of London, as well as a range of lavish amenities including four gourmet restaurants, three river-facing event rooms, an infinity pool and a 24-hour gym.

Guestrooms will include state-of-the-art features such as the Shangri-La Bed - made exclusively for the hotel group and featuring patented body-contouring technology - iPod docking stations, and heated floors and washlet toilets in all bathrooms.

Greg Dogan, president and chief executive officer of Shangri-La International, said: "Shangri-La Hotel, at The Shard, London will be a dramatic introduction of our signature Asian hospitality and style to the United Kingdom.

"International guests already familiar with Shangri-La touches will also enjoy panoramic views of London from all vantage points. But most striking will be the authentic and gracious Asian style of service, the hallmark of our 78 hotels and resorts, which will position this new property at the forefront of the world's finest hotels."

Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Renzo Piano, The Shard is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames. Standing 310 metres (1,016 feet) high, it overtook Frankfurt’s Commerzbank Tower as the tallest building in western Europe when it was completed in 2012.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts currently runs 78 residences across Asia, the Middle East, North America, Oceania and Europe.