Downtown Oklahoma City is set to be the home of a 140-room Aloft hotel by early 2013, led by businessman James R. Thompson II.

The hotel would be the first Aloft in Oklahoma City. One in Tulsa opened in August. Its parent company is Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.

In June, Thompson, vice president of New Century Investments, initially brought the plan before the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority. At that meeting, Thompson said he had been looking at Bricktown for the new project. He owns several hotels around the metro area. The Aloft is slated for NE 2 Street and Walnut Avenue, just west of the Deep Deuce Apartments and north of Bricktown. It is being dubbed Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown-Bricktown. When completed, it will be the eighth downtown hotel.

Thompson told OCURA commissioners it would be an $18 million project.

"We look forward to introducing Starwood's upscale and affordable Aloft brand to Oklahoma City," Thompson said. "We expect Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown-Bricktown to appeal to both sophisticated travelers and area professionals with its eclectic and electric experience, lively re:mix  lounge and w xyz bar."

The new Aloft will have 5,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, an outdoor pool, indoor spa and sauna, and the lounge and bar.

The brand is described as "a vision" of the upscale W Hotels. The Aloft hotels are geared toward a guest who enjoys a hip, modern d�cor at an affordable price. The hotels can be found in the United States and around the world.

"We are delighted to infuse even more energy into Oklahoma City's dynamic Bricktown district with this stylish new hotel, designed to appeal to today's savvy travelers," said Paul Sacco, senior vice president of North American Development for Starwood. "Aloft has shaken up the hospitality industry with one of the fastest and most successful brand launches in industry history, opening more than 40 hotels in less than two years."