In particular, Pechanga’s recent $300 million expansion, which was completed in March, has heated up competition in North County - where four San Diego casinos are located. In March, Sycuan Casino in El Cajon will open its first hotel, a 302-room tower, along with a spa, pool complex with a lazy river, several dining and drinking venues and more. Over the past few years, an estimated $1 billion has been pumped into the San Diego-area casino economy to build new hotel towers, massive pool complexes, swanky day spas, upscale restaurants and bars, event centers and, of course, added casino space for gambling.Īcross Southern California - from Highland to Rancho Mirage, Anza to San Jacinto - casinos are locked in a luxury amenities arms race of sorts, with resorts clamoring to up their offerings to guests that go beyond gaming. “He has raised over $3 billion in funding and financing for large casino resort acquisitions and refinancing,” the bio says.īembenek held various management positions at Pala before being named CEO in 2008, including assistant general manager and vice president of slot operations. He held previous CEO, COO and executive marketing positions at tribal and non-tribal casinos and resorts across the U.S. Through a spokesman, Buro declined to comment for this story, saying that he had nothing additional to offer beyond his letter to employees.īesides Bembenek, Pala’s longtime PR director is also no longer employed by the casino, but reports that Pala had terminated several other high-level members of its executive team and had cancelled its annual Christmas bonus to employees could not be confirmed.Īccording to Buro’s LinkedIn profile, he was the founder and CEO of Severity Inc., a Kentucky-based gaming and hospitality industry consulting firm.

Pala casino spa and resort careers