Jamul Resort honored with AAA Four Diamond designation

by Karen Pearlman | May 11, 2026 8:04 pm

Photo courtesy Jamul Casino Resort

East County News Service

May 11, 2026 (Jamul) — Just one year out from debuting a 16-story luxury hotel tower, Jamul Casino Resort[1] has been awarded the AAA Four Diamond[2] designation.

The AAA Four Diamond Award is a prestigious designation recognizing hotels and restaurants in North America that provide upscale, stylish accommodations and elevated dining options, featuring a high degree of hospitality and attention to detail.

Only about 6 percent of AAA-inspected hotels and 2 percent of restaurants receive this rating, marking them as superior to typical establishments. The rating places the East County property in the top echelon 23,000 AAA-inspected lodgings across North America. About 1,750 hotels currently hold the Four Diamond level.

Throughout the year, AAA Inspectors visit hotels and restaurants across North America, the Caribbean, and Costa Rica unannounced to objectively verify the 4 Cs of AAA Diamonds: Cleanliness, Comfort, Cuisine and Consistency.

The recognition for Jamul Casino Resort follows a significant transformation for the resort, which originally opened in 2016 as a gaming-only facility. The 2025 expansion added 200 rooms — including 52 suites and a penthouse — along with a rooftop pool, a full-service spa and expanded dining options designed to transition the property into a full-scale destination resort.

Jamul’s property is among nine hotels that are the newest additions to the AAA Four Diamonds list. The others are: Fairmont Breakers Long Beach in Long Beach, Calif.; Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah; Gun Lake Casino Resort in Wayland, Mich.; Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; S Hotel Montego Bay in Montego Bay, Jamaica; Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel in Snoqualmie, Wash.; The Compton Bentonville in Bentonville, Ark.; and Zemi Miches Punta Cana All-Inclusive Resort, Curio Collection by Hilton in Miches, Dominican Republic.

To achieve Four Diamond status, a property must pass unannounced, in-person inspections by AAA experts.

According to AAA Travel Vice President Stacey Barber, the designation is reserved for hotels that provide “upscale style and amenities… (with) meticulous attention to both service and surroundings.”

In the competitive San Diego tribal gaming landscape, Jamul now joins a select group of Four Diamond-rated properties, which includes peers Viejas Casino & Resort, Sycuan Casino Resort and Pala Casino Spa Resort.

Evolution of Jamul’s site

Owned and operated by the Jamul Indian Village of California[3], the resort has previously secured multiple “Best of Gaming” awards from Casino Player Magazine, lauded for its poker room and customer service. Its signature dining venue, Prime Cut Steak & Seafood, has also earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence[4] from 2018-23.

“Earning the AAA Four Diamond designation is a significant milestone,” said Mary Cheeks, president and general manager of Jamul Casino Resort. “It reflects the vision behind the hotel tower from its inception to meet the highest standards of luxury and service.”

For the Jamul Indian Village, the completion of the hotel as well as AAA recognition are part of a long-term master plan to provide a diversified economic base for the tribe while serving as a major source of employment in East County. The casino generally operates with a staff of more than 1,000 employees.

Source URL: https://eastcountymagazine.org/jamul-resort-honored-with-aaa-four-diamond-designation/

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