cited the underlying competitive advantages Puerto Rico continues to enjoy vis-à-vis other Caribbean and Central and South American destinations , regardless of the debt issue . “ Chief among them are the frequent airlift from the Northeast U . S ., highways and other infrastructure , first-class convention center and , possibly most important , no travel restrictions , meaning passports are not needed ,” he says .

The time may actually be right for contrarian investors to scoop up what have become undervalued

assets , according to Lesser . “ Depending on the investors ’ basis in each deal and the anticipated ownership holding period , the bet may very well turn out to be a home run ,” he says . “ Patient sponsors with successful track records working out bankruptcies and debt restructurings tend to be attracted to troubled opportunities in distressed markets .” John Paulson , president and CEO of the Paulson & Co . hedge fund , has been one such contrarian , investing a reported US $ 1.5 billion in mostly lodging assets on the island and mostly from

his personal account , starting in late 2013 and lasting — at least so far — until mid-2015 .

Paulson ’ s properties include the St . Regis Bahia Beach Resort , Bahia Beach Resort & Golf Club , both in Rio Grande on the island ’ s north coast ; and Condado Vanderbilt , La Concha Renaissance Hotel & Tower and San Juan Beach Hotel , all in Condado , San Juan . Paulson , who became famous in the 2008 downturn for betting against subprime mortgages at the height of the housing bubble , declined to comment for this story .

The manifesto of Zoku Amsterdam , which opened in May , declares the hotel a “ platform where knowledge , ideas and people can mingle .” Public areas encourage interaction , from couches in the “ Living Room 2.0 ” and rooftop green spaces to communal dining and work spaces . An app connects guests with a social network , and a community manager connects guests to networking events .

Developed by Hans Meyer and Marc Jongerius , designed by Canadian firm Concrete , the new extended-stay brand takes that approach into the loft-style guestrooms , with space for four people around a table , a fully equipped kitchen and even office supplies . Not to worry , introverts : The screened-off sleeping space has a retractable staircase .

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