idents ▁usually ▁stayed ▁at ▁the ▁Fair mont . ▁President ▁Ger ald ▁Ford ▁was ▁almost ▁shot ▁while ▁leaving ▁the ▁hotel ▁on ▁September ▁ 2 2 , ▁ 1 9 7 5 ▁by ▁a ▁woman ▁named ▁S ara ▁Jane ▁Moore . ▁A ▁former ▁Marine , ▁ ▁Oliver ▁Si pp le , ▁moved ▁her ▁hand ▁so ▁that ▁Ford ▁was ▁not ▁hit . ▁Pres idents ▁John ▁F . ▁Kennedy ▁and ▁Ron ald ▁Re agan ▁were ▁guests ▁of ▁the ▁hotel . ▁The ▁St . ▁Francis ▁also ▁hosted ▁many ▁world ▁leaders , ▁including ▁Queen ▁Elizabeth ▁II ▁and ▁Emperor ▁H iro h ito ▁of ▁Japan . ▁ ▁When ▁Western ▁International ▁became ▁West in ▁Hot els ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 1 , ▁the ▁hotel ▁was ▁also ▁renamed , ▁becoming ▁The ▁West in ▁St . ▁Francis . ▁ ▁In ▁March ▁ 2 0 1 6 , ▁An b ang ▁In sur ance ▁Group , ▁a ▁Be ij ing - based ▁Chinese ▁ins urance ▁company , ▁purchased ▁the ▁property ▁as ▁part ▁of ▁a ▁$ 6 . 5   b ill ion ▁deal ▁involving ▁the ▁St . ▁Francis ▁and ▁ 1 5 ▁other ▁lux ury ▁hot els ▁and ▁resort s . ▁ ▁In ▁April ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁the ▁hotel ▁completed ▁a ▁four - year ▁renov ation ▁of ▁its ▁land mark ▁building ▁at ▁a ▁cost ▁of ▁$ 4 5 ▁million . ▁Work ▁included ▁re decor ating ▁guest ▁rooms ▁and ▁cor rid ors , ▁en larg ing ▁some ▁bath rooms ▁to ▁include ▁walk - in ▁show ers ▁and ▁up gr ades ▁to