Hotel Staff Training Equipment, Handouts and Media Details

1. Audiovisual Requirements

Effective trainers use a variety of supplemental media to emphasize training points and to maintain the trainee's attention. Among the most popular audiovisual tools are flip charts, hard-copy overhead transparencies, videos, and PowerPoint overheads.

Many trainers use flip charts to illustrate training points. If they are used, trainers should:

• Assure that the charts are in full view of all trainees.

• Not talk to the flip chart; maintain eye contact with trainees.

• Assure that there is an ample supply of flip chart pages before the session begins.

• Sometimes, especially in interactive sessions such as brainstorming with trainees, trainers use all of the space on a flip chart and must continue on a separate page.

• Trainers should consider where completed pages will be placed and how, if at all, they will be adhered to a wall to be in full view of all trainees.

2. Other types of training equipment

This can include a table, lectern, markers, whiteboard, flip chart(s), laptop computer, and digital projector, HDMI Cable, LAN Cable, Wifi Internet, Laser Pointer etc.

Other equipment needed can include an Audio or Video Conferencing, Microphones & Speakers, Camera, Control Panel, Internet Connectivity, Interactive Whiteboard, Screen (unless wall - or ceiling - mounted), Projector or overhead transparency projector, and other items necessary for demonstrations, handouts, or other needs.

3. Handouts

• Handouts can supplement and enhance training.

• Perhaps a handout contains a brief outline of the training or an exercise to be completed after applicable discussion.

• Alternatively, the trainer may wish to circulate a worksheet to be completed as a sequence of training points is addressed.

• The best use of handouts occurs as the trainer:

• Assures that each handout enhances the opportunities for learning in a way that is more appropriate than other alternatives.

• Proofreads (more than once) to assure that there are no word processing or other errors.

• Assures that multiple handout are in proper sequence.

• Confirms that handouts are brief, well organized, and relevant to the training.

• Confirms that handout information corresponds to training points.

• Allows space for trainees to take notes if desired.

• Trainers should consider when handouts should be circulated (e.g., before or at the beginning of the training session, or when they are discussed).

4. Use of Videos 

• Trainers teaching relatively generic topics have an increasingly large variety of off-the-shelf videos available to them.

• Those employed by large tourism and hospitality organizations may additionally have customized videos.

• Before using these tools, trainers should be certain that a video is the most appropriate way to deliver training content.

• Off the shelf videos rarely explain a training concept exactly as the trainer desires.

• Some revision in training content is required or, alternatively, time is needed before and/or after the video is shown to explain differences between the training and video content.

• The timing of the video activity is another concern.

• A video may be so short that its excellent quality is marginalized by the effort required to obtain and set up the equipment. (Note: This is especially so when, for example, video equipment must be rented.)

• Alternatively, longer-than-desired videos require the trainer to judge whether time should be taken from other training or whether only part of the video should be shown.

• The latter problem becomes more significant when a video must be stopped and restarted to eliminate unnecessary material.