Lodging Hospitality Management, a Maryland Heights-based hospitality company, is close to buying one of St. Louis' most iconic attractions.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, LHC plans to close on the sale of Union Station in downtown St. Louis and are "promising something 'pretty spectacular' for the historic landmark and financially struggling retail center."

Lodging Hospitality Management, in business since 1986, has operated out of Maryland Heights' Westport Plaza since 2000. In June, the LHM purchased Westport Plaza for $33 million.

The company also owns other popular St. Louis-area hotels such as Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark and The Cheshire among others. 

Robert F. O'Loughlin, chairman and CEO of LHM, told the Post-Dispatch he would release details of the company's plan once the deal is formalized in the next couple of weeks.

From the report:

“We have some exciting plans that will encompass the entire facility,” he said. “There will be a lot that's different. It's going to be a lot of fun. We're very excited about it, and it's going to be a great project – something people in the area will enjoy.”

He said that the the 539-room Mariott Hotel connected to Union Station will operate as a boutique under DoubleTree by Hilton as of Oct. 11. He declined to discuss details of plans for the rest of the facility, which includes 160,000 square feet of retail space.

For more on this story, read the Post-Dispatch's article on the matter.