Less than two weeks after the first aloft opened in Montreal, Starwood's new lifestyle brand debuted in this country on June 19 in Rancho Cucamonga, CA.

The 136-room aloft Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga anchors the $60-million HavenPark development and is located off a legendary stretch of Interstate 10. Minutes from the Ontario Convention Center, the new hotel aims to appeal to both Los Angeles business travelers and Joshua Tree National Park visitors.

"We are thrilled to bring our exciting new twist in travel to the ever-growing Rancho Cucamonga community," Brian McGuinness, global brand leader of aloft and element hotels worldwide, said in a statement.

Aloft offers a communal lobby area highlighted by the w xyz bar, which McGuinness says is "destined to become Rancho Cucamonga's newest hot spot."

Other features of the new brand include the re:charge fitness center; splash, the outdoor pool; and re:fuel, a one-stop food and beverage area open 24 hours a day. Guestrooms feature urban-influenced design, the centerpiece a comfortable plush platform bed, along with loft-like nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows.

"The aloft brand is clearly the next great upper-tier, select-service brand targeted to a new generation of business and pleasure travelers," said Paul Novak, managing director-hospitality division of the John Buck Company, owners of the aloft Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga in a joint venture with management company Interstate Hotels & Resorts. The duo announced plans to build four to six aloft hotels over the next several years.

"We are privileged to be the first U.S. operator of this exciting new brand that introduces a whole new level of style and sophistication," said Thomas F. Hewitt, Interstate Hotels' CEO.

The California hotel is the second of 18 alofts scheduled to open this year. Expected to open later this summer are properties in Rogers, AR; Lexington, MA; Chicago O'Hare Airport; Philadelphia Airport; Charleston (SC) Airport and Convention Center; Minneapolis; Portland (OR) Airport; and Beijing, China.