CLEARWATER BEACH — It looks like all systems are a go for a brand new JW Marriott in Clearwater Beach, Tampa Bay’s first ever five-star hotel.

The 166-room, 15-storey property, which will be managed by Marriott, will boast an infinity pool, outdoor decks and a Spa by JW. Other features include two restaurants, a 300-foot private beach as well as 36 fully furnished JW Marriott Residences – the first of their kind in the United States – on the four upper floors.

Early last year, hotelier Uday Lele, whose DreamView Resort will be replaced by the US$120 million project, was in initial talks with Marriott International about the new property. At the time, Marriott could not confirm specific plans for Tampa Bay.

That all changed on Monday when the company confirmed it had given Lele the green light to launch sales of the condos under the JW Marriott Name. The one-, two- and three-bedroom units will be priced from $550,000 to $1.3 million and, when rented out, will serve as suites for the hotel.

Construction could start as early as this fall after the existing hotel is razed, and will take approximately two years to complete.

The new $100 million JM Marriott comes at a time of unprecedented hotel development in the Tampa Bay area. It recently welcomed two large resorts – Opal Sands and they Wyndham – in addition to 27 other bay area hotels that are under construction, adding a total of 4,000 rooms.