A Melbourne hotel has cancelled the seminar of a self-described "pick-up artist" whose methods include choking female strangers.

Julien Blanc, 25, was due to give a talk at the Como Hotel on Wednesday night advising men how to "pick up women from open to close".

He is from the US-based group called Real Social Dynamics, which offers men tips and techniques for attracting women.

His tactics, which include choking women and pulling them into his crotch, have been criticised online as misogynistic and abusive.

The seminar sparked outrage on social media and more than 13,000 people signed a petition calling for the cancellation of the event.

Julien Blanc delivering one of his seminars on "picking up" women. ( Facebook )

The Como Hotel responded by cancelling the event.

"Following an objective review, we are in the process of advising Real Social Dynamics of our decision not to proceed as their event venue," the hotel said on Twitter.

Petition organiser Jennifer Li said she was relieved the Como Hotel had chosen not to host the event.

"I was very pleasantly surprised and ecstatic when I heard about it," she said.

"I just didn't think it could turn around so quickly and that it would catch so much steam."