AccorHotels has named Greg Brady as General Manager and Marie-Cecile Heritage as Director of Sales and Marketing for the Dr Jerry Schwartz’s new Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour, due for completion in the third quarter of 2017.
Brady comes to the Sofitel Luxury Hotels brand with more than 27 years of experience in the hospitality industry, including nine years with AccorHotels in Australia.
Prior to that, Brady held a variety of General Manager and other key hotel positions with leading accommodation groups such as InterContinental Hotels Group and Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Most recently Brady was General Manager at the 517-room Mercure Hotel Sydney, one of the network’s key hotels.
Brady will direct the hotel’s operations aside luxury hotel specialist Marie-Cecile Heritage (nee Dumond) who has been appointed to the role of Director of Sales and Marketing for the new luxury property.
Boasting 15 years of hotel industry experience both in Australia and France, Heritage brings with her a genuine French pedigree befitting of the Sofitel brand’s image of French elegance in luxury hospitality.
For the past 15 years, Heritage has held key positions with international luxury hotel group, Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Most recently she was Director of Sales and Marketing for the 892-room Hotel Four Points by Sheraton in Sydney, Darling Harbour, a position she directed for six years. Previously, Heritage was based in France with Starwood, first as Director of Sales for Trianon Palace and Spa, a Westin hotel located in Versailles, and later as Director of Sales for the iconic Westin Paris.
AccorHotels Chief Operating Officer Pacific, Simon McGrath said: “Both Greg and Marie-Cecile are veteran hoteliers with an undeniable wealth of experience.
“Their understanding of the Sydney market, and specifically the Darling Harbour precinct, will prove invaluable as we prepare to launch this significant hotel project and welcome our first guests to the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour in 2017.”
The new-build Sofitel is part of the State Government’s AUD$3.4 billion transformation of the Darling Harbour precinct and once built, the 35 storey, circa 600 room hotel will become Sydney CBD’s first, major, new-build 5-star hotel in 15 years.
Once open, Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour will boast panoramic harbour and city views, a rooftop Club Lounge, outdoor pool deck, extensive food and beverage and meeting facilities including a large ballroom.