Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour Welcomes New Director of Conference & Events, Courtney Lavender19.08.2025

Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour is delighted to welcome Courtney Lavender as the new Director of Conference & Events, joining the Commercial Team with nearly a decade of experience delivering world-class events across the Accor network.

Courtney brings an exceptional track record in orchestrating large-scale, high-impact conferences and events, most recently as Precinct Associate Director of Sales at Sydney Olympic Park. In this role, she led the end-to-end delivery of major international and domestic events including the FIFA Women’s World Cup, UFC, State of Origin, and the Royal Easter Show, spanning operations across Pullman, Novotel, and ibis hotels.

Her leadership consistently drove strong commercial performance, exceeding revenue targets across conference and events, group travel, and corporate accommodation in both 2022 and 2023. Courtney also brings a deep connection to the Sofitel brand, having served as Associate Director of Conference & Events at Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, where she worked closely with high-profile government, corporate, and sporting clients. Her commitment to service innovation, recruitment excellence, and elevated food and beverage delivery positioned the hotel as a leader in luxury event experiences.

With a strong foundation in strategy, client relations, and operational delivery, Courtney’s appointment marks a new chapter in the hotel’s commitment to curating exceptional events with elegance and precision.

We are thrilled to welcome Courtney Lavender to the Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour team and look forward to the expertise and fresh perspective she brings to our conference and events offering.