Tribal Gaming

San Manuel Nation Acquires Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Expanding Non-Gaming Portfolio

Posted on: October 9, 2026, 11:30h.

Last updated on: October 12, 2026, 07:10h.

Written by

Todd Shriber Todd Shriber is a senior news reporter covering gaming financials, casino business, stocks, and mergers and acquisitions for Casino.org. Todd got his start in financial markets as a reporter with Bloomberg News...
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Key Points

The San Manuel Investment Authority acquired the 750-room Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Arizona for $241.4 million
The deal advances the tribe's strategy to diversify into non-gaming commercial hospitality
San Manuel continues to own and operate two major gaming resorts: Yaamava’ in California and Palms in Las Vegas

The San Manuel Investment Authority, the investment arm of Southern California’s Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, has acquired the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Ariz., further expanding its non-gaming luxury footprint.

San Manuel Yaamava' Resort & Casino California — The San Manuel Investment Authority (SMIA) acquired the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess hotel. (Image: Yaamava’ Resort & Casino)

Although financial terms were not officially disclosed, public filings with the Maricopa County recorder’s office indicate that four parcels of the 65-acre property sold for $241.4 million. The price tag includes nearly $24 million in equipment, fixtures, and other intangible assets. Strategic Hotels & Resorts served as the seller.

With the purchase, the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation acquires one of Arizona’s premier resort properties.

“A winner of numerous accolades and awards in the travel, hospitality and golf categories, the Princess received the AAA Timeless Diamond designation in 2025 for maintaining Five Diamond status since 1991,” according to a statement issued by the tribe. “The resort has also been recognized as one of Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards ‘Top Resorts in the Southwest’ for the past three consecutive years.”

Fairmont will continue operating the venue.

Established Presence in Gaming

In some form, bettors in Southern California and Las Vegas may have experience with San Manuel. The tribe owns the Yaamava’ Resort & Casino at San Manuel, which was rebranded from San Manuel Casino five years ago.

Located in Highland, Calif., Yaamava’ is one of the largest tribal casinos in the Golden State. By gross gaming revenue (GGR), California is the largest tribal casino market in the U.S.

Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation’s other gaming interests include the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, which it acquired from Red Rock Resorts (NASDAQ: RRR) for $650 million in cash in May 2021. Red Rock took a loss on that deal as it paid $312.5 million for the venue and then proceeded to spend $690 million on enhancements.

Expanding Luxury Non-Gaming Portfolio

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess isn’t San Manuel’s first dance with ownership of a high-end non-gaming hotel. In July 2023, the tribe purchased a 40% stake in the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach in Dana Point, Calif. By October 2025, the tribe held majority control of the venue.

Hilton continues to manage hotel operations at Monarch Beach, while Troon manages golf operations. That golf connection mirrors the strategic appeal of the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

The resort is located next to TPC Scottsdale, which is the home of the WM Phoenix Open. That’s one of the most popular annual stops on the PGA Tour, meaning the Fairmont benefits from increased traffic during the week of the tournament.

Todd Shriber is a senior news reporter covering gaming financials, casino business, stocks, and mergers and acquisitions for Casino.org.

Todd got his start in financial markets as a reporter with Bloomberg News. Later, he became a trader at a Southern California-based long/short hedge fund, where he specialized in the trading sector and international ETFs leading up to and during the financial crisis. He joined Casino.org in 2019.

Currently, Todd analyzes, researches, and writes on ETFs for various web-based publications and financial services firms. Shriber has been featured and quoted in Barron's, CNBC.com, and The Wall Street Journal. His work can also be found on Benzinga, ETF Daily News, ETF Trends, MarketWatch, Fox Business, and Nasdaq.com.

He currently resides in Las Vegas, where he enjoys golf and taking his black lab to the dog park. He's also an avid sports fan and likes to wager on college football and the NBA. You can also find him at the three-card poker and roulette table, even though he knows better.

Contact Todd at todd.shriber@casino.org.