Tony Silva

Bio:

Hey, I’m Tony Silva, Talent Acquisition and Development Manager at Monarch Casino Resort Spa in Black Hawk, Colorado. With over 20 years of experience in hospitality, I’ve dedicated my career to talent acquisition, development, and leadership, with a passion for building high-performing teams and devising innovative strategies.

My Hospitality career began when I was 15 years old, tearing up astro turf, scraping glue, and painting balconies in Tempe, Arizona, as a summer job.  Since then, I have been a Maintenance, Shuttle driver, Hotel Front Desk, Bartender, Cook, Server, Housekeeper, Public area, Night Auditor, and of course, laundry!  Would you follow someone going somewhere they have never been or someone who knows where they are going?  My hands-on experience before leading creates a stronger sense of trust between leadership and direct reports.  I am truly a student of leadership and find it fascinating!

Before Monarch, I was a Senior Recruiter at Goodwin Recruiting (Forbes America’s Best Recruiting Firm 2021-2023) in Denver, specializing in contingent and retained recruiting nationwide.  As Assistant General Manager at Marriott Hotel (2020-2021) in Denver, CO, I navigated COVID-19 challenges to achieve a 78% occupancy rate and perfect guest service scores for the first three months in 2021. At Drury Hotels (2014-2020), I turned around a struggling Flagstaff hotel, opened new hotels across the country, and supported 18 properties as a Regional Guest Service Expert.

Since January 2023 at Monarch, I’ve rebuilt our iCIMS ATS platform, filled 90% of exempt openings, and cut turnover by 32%. I’ve launched an hourly and leadership orientation, luxury Forbes training, and a 6-month International Development Program. My recruiting team has reestablished staffing standards in Black Hawk, growing the workforce by 20% in 2023 and 11% in 2024, despite a challenging market. I’ve closed over 100 jobs with creative strategies, earning recognition as one of Colorado's best recruiters by Mile-High SHRM in 2024, 2023 Hospitality Leader of the Year, and a feature on the cover of Hospitality Business Review.

Originally from Arizona’s East Valley, I’ve lived in Flagstaff and now Denver with my girlfriend, her son, our cat, Sushi, and our dog, Kooper. An NCAA bowler (2009-2011), and continues to bowl competitively today. I enjoy weightlifting, bowling, hiking, skiing, and spending quality time with my family. My career reflects a drive to make a positive impact in the hospitality industry, and I’m excited about what’s next.