For almost a half-century, it has been the resort you simply can’t miss if you’re in San Juan’s buzzy Condado neighborhood: La Concha, the tropical masterpiece by Toro Ferrer. 

That includes a large-scale renovation project of the mid-century classic back in 2008, when the hotel joined Marriott’s Renaissance brand. (What didn’t change was the signature seashell).  

And now La Concha is once again getting new life, set to become the first-ever member of Marriott’s Autograph Collection in Puerto Rico. 

John Paulson’s Paulson & Co, which has owned the resort since 2014, has announced the move, which is being accompanied by a “full renovation,” to the tune of $45 million. 

“La Concha Resort has had a long-standing relationship with Marriott, previously forming part of its Renaissance Hotels group for 15 years. Joining Marriott’s Autograph Collection is a huge step forward in La Concha’s legacy as one of Puerto Rico’s premier hotels,” said John Paulson, President of Paulson & Co. “With this partnership, our guests will enjoy new levels of luxury and an enhanced guest experience.”

That renovation project will include all 238 oceanfront suites, along with the addition of a new spa and an upgraded Beach Club. 

La Concha is also adding the new Tekka Bar, a sushi concept by restaurateur Takashi Segawa famous for its location at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. 

And that’s no accident — the hotel has already been upping its Vegas factor in recent years, most notably with the launch of the first-ever BetMGM Sportsbook in the Caribbean, and the Fifty Eight Club, where Bad Bunny has had several performances, both at the property’s Casino Del Mar. 

La Concha is part of the Condado Collection of hotels owned and operated by Paulson Puerto Rico, along with the Condado Vanderbilt and the Condado Ocean Club. 

Paulson also owns the St Regis Hotel and Spa on Bahia Beach in Puerto Rico. 

The large-scale renovation (which will also include an as-yet-unnamed eatery in the hotel’s iconic Perla space) could provide new life for a hotel that has always been one of the most recognizable places to stay in Puerto Rico. 

For more, visit La Concha.