The workshop provided participants with tips about how to master the ‘60-second elevator pitch’, lessons on how to tell stories that capture an audience’s attention, the tools and strategies to make messages more compelling, and insights on the art of ‘Persuasion Psychology’.
BANGKOK – Travel and tourism industry professionals have been learning the secrets of effective public speaking at a three-day Human Capacity Development workshop organised by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) from July 17-19, 2017.
The interactive programme, titled Unlocking the Secrets to Effective Public Speaking’, was led by two international experts in public speaking training: Amelie Yan-Gouiffes, International Speaker, Public Speaking Coach and Inner Diamond Miner; and Stu Lloyd, Chief Hothead – Hotheads Innovation and TopDog & Training Director at CATMATDOG.
The workshop provided participants with tips about how to master the ‘60-second elevator pitch’, lessons on how to tell stories that capture an audience’s attention, the tools and strategies to make messages more compelling, and insights on the art of ‘Persuasion Psychology’. The objective was to enable delegates to overcome their hesitancy, nervousness and feelings of uncertainty when speaking in public.
Supporting the idea that storytelling is one of the most effective ways to engage with an audience, participants spent their first afternoon exploring the Bangkok neighbourhood of Talad Noi – one of the oldest Thai-Chinese communities in Bangkok. Guided by local experts from HiveSters, the delegates shared stories while walking through the winding streets, meeting local residents in their homes.
“The objective of the workshop was to enable delegates from a broad cross section of the public and private sectors to discover their own unique speaking identities and learn to become more confident speakers and influencers,” explained Mrs. Parita Niemwongse, PATA’s Director for Human Capital Development.
Having unlocked the secrets to effective public speaking, participants were asked to use their newly-acquired skills to talk about their previous experiences, share stories, perform an ‘elevator pitch’ and share their key messages. The presentations were assessed by their peers in constructive feedback sessions. Delegates ultimately acquired the skills to make every speech inspirational and impactful.
Attending the workshop were representatives from Amadeus Asia Limited, Asian Trails Laos, Jetwing Hotels, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Thailand, the Solomon Islands Visitors Bureau (SIVB) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). Delegates acquired the skills to make every speech one that inspires audiences and makes an impact.
Acknowledging the courage needed to speak before an audience Amelie Yan-Gouiffes described the act of public speaking as exposing oneself to others and finding your unique individual identity or your ‘inner diamond’, adding that the idea of public speaking is not exclusively related to speeches but also is important for small presentations, sales-pitches, interviews and networking. She empowered the delegates by showing them that speaking confidently and effectively is something that they can master with practice and by actively erasing any doubts they may have in their mind.
During the programme, Stu Lloyd asked the participants to bring out their ‘inner lions’. In a vibrant and interactive session he shared the secret sales techniques used by Fortune 500 companies with the delegates learning how to influence the ‘power person’.
PATAcademy-HCD is a three-day workshop incorporating a series of intensive classroom interactions by leading travel industry practitioners with practical activities, group assignments, and networking events. The next workshop will be held on December 6-8, 2017 at the PATA Engagement Hub in Bangkok, Thailand.
Angelos is the news editor for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). His role includes to monitor the hundrends of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skim the most important according to our strategy. He currently studies Communication, Media & Culture in Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens.
