Horizon Hospitality and the Pittsburgh Penguins Partner to Build Hotel Adjacent to New Consol Energy Center PITTSBURGH, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Horizon Hospitality, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Lodging Associates and Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE:CHH) celebrated the official ground breaking of a new Cambria Suites hotel, the all-suite brand from Choice Hotels designed to appeal to travelers who seek contemporary, upscale accommodations at a great value, in downtown Pittsburgh, PA. The 142-suite hotel will be located on Centre Avenue adjacent to the new Consol Energy Center. The ground breaking ceremony was held today at the construction site with business, community and government leaders in attendance. The construction of the Cambria Suites hotel is scheduled to be completed in fall 2010. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060315/DCW039LOGO-a ) "Horizon Hospitality has been afforded a great opportunity to partner with the Pittsburgh Penguins and continue the quest of changing the uptown region of the city of Pittsburgh," said Rodney Piatt, CEO of Horizon Properties Group. "The Cambria Suites arena hotel will be a great complement to the Consol Energy Center and hopefully be a catalyst for future development in the area." Horizon Hospitality is an affiliate of Horizon Properties Group, the region's leading full service real estate development company, that has extensive experience in commercial offices and corporate headquarters. Horizon Hospitality owns and operates three other hotel properties in the Pittsburgh region and is currently constructing a second Cambria Suites property near the Meadows Racetrack and Casino in Washington, PA. The new Cambria Suites hotel in downtown Pittsburgh will be managed by Buffalo Lodging Associates, a fully integrated hotel development and management company for more than 15 years. "The Pittsburgh Penguins are excited to work with Horizon Hospitality and Choice Hotels to bring this dynamic Cambria Suites hotel to downtown Pittsburgh," said Penguins president David Morehouse. "It is the first piece of development related to our new arena project and we think it is a glimpse of what the Consol Energy Center can mean for Pittsburgh and this section of the downtown area." The Cambria Suites hotel brings the latest in hotel innovation to the Pittsburgh area. Each room is 25 percent larger than most standard hotel rooms, with separate work and living areas with ergonomic chairs, movable desks, luxury linens, and Bath and Body Works® products. In addition, each hotel provides the latest in technology, including a 52-inch television in the open, airy two-story lobby and two flat-screen LCD televisions, a CD/DVD player, and MP3 jacks in each suite. Select suites offer MediaHub(TM) plug-and-play technology allowing guests to connect their laptop, MP3 player, game console, digital camera, or CD/DVD player hassle-free. Free high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is available throughout the hotel, so that guests can stay connected when on the road. "We are pleased to team up with a respected local business and world-class sports team to add Pittsburgh to the list of cities throughout the country that Cambria Suites can call home," said Kevin J. Lewis, president, Cambria Suites. "Creating relationships with dedicated developers such as Horizon Hospitality is paramount to continue to build the Cambria Suites brand." Like all Cambria Suites hotels, the Pittsburgh property will feature: Reflect, a contemporary bistro-style restaurant that features a full barista coffee bar and serves breakfast and dinner; Refresh, a state-of-the-art fitness center with an indoor pool and spa; and Refill, a 24-hour sundry shop that stocks freshly prepared "grab 'n' go" gourmet salads and sandwiches, as well as typical convenience items and healthy and organic foods. For more information about Cambria Suites, visit the Cambria Suites website at http://www.cambriasuites.com/. About Cambria Suites Cambria Suites is the newest addition to Choice Hotels and offers contemporary, upscale accommodations at affordable prices. Designed as a lifestyle hotel brand, Cambria Suites offers more than just a place to sleep at night. It features a larger lobby to give guests a more social atmosphere, all-suite rooms that are 25 percent larger than standard hotel rooms and include a separate living, working and sleeping space, providing business and leisure travelers a haven to relax, socialize and network. There are currently 18 properties open across the country with 43 hotels under development nationwide. About Choice Hotels Choice Hotels International, Inc. franchises more than 6,000 hotels, representing more than 485,000 rooms in the United States and more than 35 other countries and territories. As of September 30, 2009, more than 700 hotels are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 59,000 rooms, and more than 100 hotels, representing approximately 9,400 rooms, are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in more than 20 other countries and territories. The company's Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands serve guests worldwide. In addition, via its Ascend Collection membership program, travelers in the United States and the Caribbean have upscale lodging options at historic, boutique and unique hotels. Additional corporate information may be found on the Choice Hotels International, Inc. Web site, which may be accessed at http://www.choicehotels.com/. Choice Hotels, Choice Hotels International, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, Rodeway Inn and Ascend Collection are proprietary trademarks and service marks of Choice Hotels International. © 2009 Choice Hotels International, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060315/DCW039LOGO-a http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Choice Hotels International, Inc. CONTACT: Stacy Moskowitz, +1-646-218-6005, ; or Heather Soule of Choice Hotels International, Inc., +1-301-628-4361, Web Site: http://www.choicehotels.com/

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