Rod Piatt is bullish on Cambria Suites, Choice Hotels nascent lifestyle brand. Piatt's firm, Horizon Properties Group, of which he is CEO, earlier this month opened its first Cambria with a second to debut On Dec. 23. Both are in the Pittsburgh area.

“Given the product type and the quality and uniqueness of the architecture and room layouts, Cambria is a perfect fit for both locations,” says Piatt. The first Cambria opened near the Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington, PA. The other property opens Dec. 23 in Pittsburgh's developing Uptown neighborhood. The 142-suite hotel is being developed in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team and is next door to the Consol Energy Center, the team's new home that also opens in December.

Because of their locations, Piatt believes both hotels will initially generate most of their business from leisure travelers. “Once leisure guests experience the product, I'm certain they'll be back as business travelers,” he says. “When you compare it to Courtyard or Hampton Inn, there are very compelling reasons why a business traveler would choose the Cambria product.”

The Pittsburgh property will be in the national spotlight shortly after it opens as the Penguins host the NHL's annual New Year's Day Winter Classic, an outdoor game that will be played at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Choice Hotels launched the Cambria brand in 2007 with the opening of the first property in Boise, ID. Today, 22 hotels are open and 40-plus are under development.