Alka Winter Email & Phone Number

Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Based in Dubai following the acquisition of FRHI Hotels & Resorts by AccorHotels in July 2016Recent highlights include the successful media awareness strategy focused on the Group's 50% stake in South African based Mantis Group (securing top tier coverage in CNN, Le Monde, Conde Nast, Business Traveler, etc...) to outperforming and over-indexing against the competitive set vis-a-vis media share of voice - reach and volume (10 cover features alone) - in 2017/first half 2018.Winner of Hotelier Middle East magazine’s PR Person of the Year in 2010 and Green (Environmental) Person of the Year 2008.Reporting directly to the Chief Commercial Officer for Accor, Middle East & Africa. Responsibilities include:- Overseeing a portfolio over 250 operating hotels within the Middle East and Africa, ranging from luxury and upscale to midscale and economy.- Chair of RiiSE - Accor's gender equality and diversity & inclusion platform- Responsible for the Group’s regional luxury (Luxe) communications strategy, including content and forward feature ideation and guiding the region’s media relations outreach program.- Recruiting all Manager/Director/Area Director Communications & PR roles within the region as well as developing fast track and Masterclass programs for career growth and development. - Providing corporate leadership, strategic direction, and counsel to Accor’s regional agency network.- Driving Accor's regional strategy ranging from acquisitions, lifestyle brand based priorities, and new partnerships to the region - Securing tier 1 consumer and trade media profiling for global and regional (C-suite) leadership, including cover features (Arabian Business, CEO Middle East, Hotelier Middle East) and coverage in broadcast and lifestyle (CNN, Conde Nast, Bloomberg). This is part of the region's executive thought leadership strategy.- Developing key messages and providing communications support for consumer panels, advisory boards, roundtables and media interviews.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Based out of the Dubai Regional Office (DRO), responsibilities include providing strategic public relations support for Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel properties (19 hotels) in the region, as well as continuing to elevate the FRHI brand within the public domain. Reported to the Vice President, Sales & Marketing, MEAI.From September 2015 to June 2017, the role also encompassed brand marketing (in the absence of dedicated marketing director), including campaign management, partnership marketing, creative and copy development and results driven reporting.Key initiatives: - Drove all regional campaigns with Digital Marketing Director to ensure a non-silo approach to communications and promotion, Conducted branding and collateral roll out for all pre-opening hotels as well as auditing of operational hotels.- Managed a number of PR agencies on retainer, creative and media buying agencies.- Nurtured and trained in-house PR managers and directors for effective media outreach and campaign strategy.- Led the region’s crisis & reputation management communications and senior management training roll-out. - Drove opening hotel strategy meeting with senior pre-opening hotel team member to ensure on-time delivery of communications tacticals. - Executed brand based events and community outreach programs.- Developed marketing positioning for hotels and presented directly to owners and other stakeholders.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Responsible for the creation and execution of public relations strategies for Fairmont Dubai, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi, and Fairmont The Palm, Dubai (the last two from pre-opening stage onwards). Reported into three property based General Managers and directly led a team of three public relations professionals.Results included:- Increased growth in Arabic media relations and coverage by 72% YTD with the introduction of a dedicated Arabic area manager in August 2013.- Nurtured strong relationships with industry partners – Emirates, Etihad, DTCM, TCA - Developed and executed pre-opening property strategies. Result: Fairmont Bab Al Bahr AED 10.3 million AVE and Fairmont the Palm AED 12.8 million within first year of operation.- Initiated the 2013 PR strategy for Noire (blind dining concept) at Fairmont Dubai and generated an excess of AED 10 million in media coverage during the first 6 months alone.

Dubai, Uae

Oversaw the brand communications and development of marketing, public relations and media outreach for the company's flagship hotel in the Middle East. Following a little over a year into the position, I was promoted to Area Director, Communications (new role based on my expertise) for Fairmont Hotels & Resorts in the UAE.Reported to the Area Director, Sales & Marketing, UAEKey duties:- Responsible for a media and marketing budget in excess of AED 3 million and exercised judicial use of expenses within forecasted budget.- Developed, wrote and produced all marketing communication pieces in addition to all press material.- Created and maintained an issues awareness program and crisis communications program.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Secured media coverage (strictly through PR strategies/tactics) in Dubai based and GCC press (Gulf countries) in excess of AED 5 million (approximately US $1.5 Million) from January to November 2008.

Toronto, Canada

Executed public relations programs to local, regional and national markets.

Toronto, Canada

Created and disseminated various public relations collateral, including press releases, facts sheets, media alerts, internal corporate newsletters, pitch letters, and web site copy.

Toronto

Assisted with the media outreach for several exhibitions and shows, including 'Eternal Egypt' and 'Art Deco'.

Public Relations, Post Graduate Degree

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Political Science And Government