28 hotels ῀
A head for heights Darren Gearing, vice-president and general manager of Shangri-La at The Shard, lifts the lid on the challenges of creating a hotel in the clouds It was back in 2005 that we signed the deal to lease our foors in Te Shard. Our CEO was approached by the developer, Irvine Sellar, and loved the location and Renzo Piano’s vision. We have been ofered many opportunities in London over the years but because of this building, because of the potential, the company just jumped at it. Te hotel, which will complement our recent openings in Paris and Istanbul, will fnally open this autumn – we’ve had to be very patient but it’s going to be well worth it. It will have 202 bedrooms – small compared to an Asian hotel. Tat’s what the real estate dictates, but it’s also a nice recipe for how we want to operate in Europe. We’re not a cookie-cutter company. We have guiding principles, but we try to recognise where we are. Tis will be our fourth elevated hotel, afer Hong Kong, Tokyo and Beijing. It is a logistical challenge to get people and materials to where they’re needed. Regardless of how we spin it, it’s all going to be about the views – they are sensational. Te swimming pool, for example, is on level 52, next to the bar. It has an infnity edge and faces west towards St Paul’s, Westminster and the meandering Tames. In the evenings, we’re going to open the doors and it will become part of the bar. It’s going to be very glamorous and dramatic. Our location gives us some very unique selling points. We’re comfortable
Images of the Shangri-La’s interior are a closely guarded secret but, as these shots of The Shard prove, guests will enjoy jaw-dropping views
because you’re starting from a clean canvas. You can replicate things that are tried and tested but you can also try new things. A place such as London is always ready for something diferent, which is why you have all these new hotels. People try them all and they really do compare so you have to keep re-evaluating what you’re doing. I’m motivated by that perpetual challenge. Competition is good because it revitalises the
Te infnity pool on the 52nd foor will be very dramatic that we’re not on Park Lane or in Knightsbridge: we believe that’s a competitive advantage to us. Tis area will provide so many opportunities for people to experience London. We work with some very upmarket consortiums, travel agents and high-net-worth individuals and they all know about Borough Market, the river walk, Te Globe and Tate Modern. Tere is so much going on around Te Shard – I was abroad for 26 years and it’s incredible to return and see the changes. We’ve already reached out to Borough and Maltby Street
Markets to work with those suppliers – we are so fortunate to have such quality produce on our doorstep. We’re also putting a deli and cake shop at the entrance of the hotel on St Tomas’ Street. We hope to emulate the success we’ve had in Asia making fve-star deluxe properties part of the local community, with people dropping in for pastries. In Asia, local people normally form more than 60 per cent of your customer base. Tere’s not the same integration here just yet, but it’s a focus for us. Opening a hotel is a fantastic opportunity
market – you have to be at the top of your game. It’s going to be a beautiful hotel. I’m not worried about the physical elements. But what I’m really hoping we can do is bring our style of service and our culture here. And, if done right, I think that is what will set us apart. Q shangri-la.com/london DARREN GEARING has worked with Shangri-La for 21 years. He is currently responsible for the group’s hotels in Europe and North America, including Paris, Istanbul, Toronto, Vancouver and London