Hyatt Regency deal could top 2016 sales

It's still early in the year, but the sale of the 250-suite Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort & Spa is shaping up to be among the largest hotel sales of 2016 nationwide.

Based on data compiled by New York-based LW Hospitality Advisors, the $108 million price listed in Pinellas County property records would rank the sale among the top 35 in the U.S. for all of 2015.

The Hyatt Regency, which was purchased by Westmont Hospitality Group of Houston in early February, also will likely be among the top lodging sales in Florida for 2016, based on last year's data.

Last year, only the purchase of the James Royal Palm, in Miami, for $278 million; the $134 million deal that saw the 416-room Hilton Clearwater Beach trade hands; and the 140-key SLS Hotel South Beach transaction for that Miami property would have exceeded the Hyatt Regency Clearwater sale, according to LW Hospitality.