THE opening of a spa complex at York’s Cedar Court Grand Hotel has been put back until the middle of next month.

The Grand – and the whole city’s tourism economy – is then set to benefit from extensive coverage by national and international travel writers attracted by York’s first five-star hotel.

The £20 million Grand, situated in the Grade II listed former railway headquarters in Station Rise, opened its doors early in May, with the associated spa in the basement intended to open during June.

But a spokesman revealed today that technical difficulties had now resulted in this being put back until the middle of July.

The hotel’s website tells customers: “It takes time to create something truly spectacular, which is why our new vaulted spa is still undergoing construction.”

The spokesman said that when it opens, a series of travel writers from national publications are set to beat a path to the door.

And Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of the tourism organisation Visit York, said the Grand was providing it with a fantastic opportunity to persuade more national and international journalists to visit York. “Next week, for example, in association with Welcome to Yorkshire, we are hosting a group of six travel writers from the United States, including writers from New-York based magazines and the editor of a top travel website, goNomad.com.” She said York’s hoteliers helped Visit York to host dozens of travel journalists every year, which led to fantastic media exposure for York and Yorkshire across the globe.

“The addition of the Cedar Court Grand means we can target travel editors of high-quality magazines and newspapers and so encourage high-spending visitors to the city.”

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Grand’s five-star status is still subject to confirmation by AA inspectors, who will pay undercover visits in coming months to check it meets all the necessary criteria.

The hotel spokesman said everything in the hotel had been provided to five-star standard, but a hotel could never claim five-star status until it had been passed by the mystery guest inspectors.