Marketing Game Changers Awards Winner 2025: Alka WinterAlka Winter has been named a winner of Campaign Middle East’s Marketing Game Changers Awards for 2025.
The awards recognise client-side marketers whose work delivered excellence across six criteria: Leadership & Talent Development, Creativity & Innovation, Performance & Business Impact, Brand Building, Social Impact and Industry Contribution.
The Marketing Game Changers Awards were launched this year to recognise marketers driving meaningful impact for their brands and the wider industry. The programme introduces a structured and transparent approach to spotlighting standout talent, with defined criteria, formal submissions and independent evaluation.
Open to brand-side marketers across MENA and free to enter, the 2025 edition of the Marketing Game Changers Awards named ten winners in total with the Marketer of the Year leading the inaugural cohort.
ALKA WINTER
Vice President, Destination Marketing and Communications, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA)
Years in the company: 5.5
Years in the region: 18
With an 18-year track record in strategic planning and delivery, Winter specialises in brand and tactical marketing, digital, media relations, PR, reputation management and corporate and stakeholder communications.
As Vice President, Destination Marketing and Communications for Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Winter is tasked with elevating the profile of the northern emirate in the UAE and ultimately driving its vision of becoming a sustainable destination and attracting more than 3.5 million visitors annually by 2030.
As a travel and hospitality expert, Winter’s career has taken her from Fairmont, Raffles and Swissotel to Accor, one of the largest hotel operators worldwide. During her time at Accor, she was the custodian of 30 brands and oversaw a portfolio of more than 350 hotels across 36 countries.
RAPID FIRE WITH WINTER
A classic marketing trick that never gets old?
Using humour.
Most overrated buzzword in marketing?
Double click.
Favourite nostalgic ad from your childhood?
Alka-Seltzer (especially the jingle – plop plop, fizz fizz, oh what a relief it is). Genius marketing in getting consumers to use more than one tablet. Also love it as it’s my namesake.
Biggest lesson you’ve learnt in your career?
You’re never full stack enough; keep acquiring skills – and keep stacking.
One marketing principle you’ll never compromise on?
Craft and quality.
Book, podcast or show you recommend to everyone?
Uncensored CMO by Jon Evans. For great storytelling, hinging on the horrific and – really nothing to do with marketing – MrBallen: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories.
What you’d be doing if not marketing?
Collecting art.
One thing your colleagues would be surprised to know about you?
I’m pretty shy.
What is the top challenge the marketing and advertising industry needs to address on priority?
Winter: Demonstrating the strength of brand to stakeholders. As brand building compounds over time, a lot more work needs to be done to get relevant stakeholders (the board, finance, procurement and C-Suite) on-side and prepared for the long game.
What do you consider your top achievement over the past 12 months?
Winter: My top achievement and an area that I am incredibly proud of is the development, the diversity and the tenure of my team.
They are my ‘Justice League’, spanning across 10 different nationalities, three different generations and a range of experiences (from hospitality marketing, ad agency to e-commerce and online travel agency (OTA). Not only am I incredibly proud of the work we’ve produced over the years, but I’m even more chuffed to see them develop into leaders in their own right.
Advice to the next generation of marketers?
Winter: Be aware of your surroundings from an industry standpoint.
What are the most pressing issues of the day and how can you, as a marketer, help solve them?
Winter: Observe popular culture and social undercurrents. The more you show relevancy within this context, the more impactful your work will be.
