TAMPA - Ritz-Carlton remains committed to opening a hotel in Tampa despite plans that have fallen through with a Clearwater developer for a hotel-condominium project.

Ritz-Carlton officials and the developer of the planned hotel, Sandip Patel, Orion Communities Inc. president and chief executive officer, said Tuesday they hope to continue to do business together. The project was planned to open in 2011 on the waterfront along the Courtney Campbell Parkway.

"Tampa has always been on our radar screen, and we have a great relationship with Mr. Patel," said Ritz-Carlton's vice president of public relations, Vivian Deuschl. "We certainly are anxious to get back on the drawing board."

Patel said in an e-mail that Orion had to pull back from two equity sources for the Ritz-Carlton project in light of deteriorating economic conditions in the past 12 months.

"It is likely that the project will be delayed for at least a year or two before moving forward," Patel said. "It is not 100 percent certain if we would continue to pursue this site or a couple of alternative sites we are considering.

"We hope as the market turns around, we will be able to deliver a much needed, 5-star luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel to the Tampa area," the e-mail said.

The landowners, Tampa-based Capital Realty Investors, which owns the Radisson Bay Harbour Hotel on the site, chose to "terminate the contract" to generate income from the hotel, Patel said.

Ben Wacksman, president of Capital Realty, said a multimillion-dollar renovation is planned for the hotel, which will become part of a new brand to be announced. The Ritz-Carlton plans, announced in November, included a 269-room hotel and 176 condominiums.

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at   (813) 259-7817        or tjackovics@tampatrib.com.