2023 RAMMY Awards

Client: Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington

Venue: Walter E. Washington Convention Center

Event Date: July 9th, 2023

Event Challenge: Finding a way to accommodate more guests than previous years while optimizing guest flow and maintaining efficiency.


Another year, another RAMMYS in the books! Last month, we produced the 2023 RAMMY Awards, challenging ourselves to once again outdo the food, decor, and activations from each year prior to make an exceptional night, thrilling guests and exceeding expectations. With over 2,300 expected guests, the Stratus team had to find a way to accommodate the largest guest count at a RAMMYS thus far, while optimizing the flow of the event. We were excited to take on this challenge and use our creativity and logistics expertise to find a way to ensure every separate piece ran smoothly while simultaneously providing a unique experience. 


The team at the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington works diligently and passionately year after year to create the best possible experience for their guests. This year, our team proposed using three floors in the Walter E Washington Convention Center. This would allow guests to flow easily throughout the space, even with the increased number of attendees. 

Guests entered into the Grand Lobby of the Convention Center, where they were checked in for the event. They then proceeded to the third floor Ballroom Pre-Function space for food and drink, as well as an Art All Night Installation, featuring pieces by local artists. Guests then made their way into Ballroom C for a pre-award show reception featuring a performance by Sirius Band. Opening the wall into Ballroom AB allowed guests to flow in for the award show. During the award ceremony, our team of vendor partners worked on removing registration tables in the Grand Lobby and flipping the space for the after party.

After the awards ceremony, guests could make their way from the third floor to the first or second floor which had sponsor lounges, activations, and of course, food and beverage stations. The second floor included a karaoke lounge sponsored by Extraordinary Entertainment and a Bacon and Bourbon lounge with a speakeasy vibe. 

Our decor partner, Design Foundry, had spent an entire day decorating the stairs in the Grand Lobby into the perfect DJ area. Plates of various colors lined the steps leading up to a landing where opening DJ, Philipz and headliner NOTD rocked the night away. The dance floor below was full of attendees dancing, mingling, and drinking delicious handcrafted cocktails. 

Stratus succeeded in our mission to make the biggest RAMMYS run flawlessly, bringing the event to new heights, and thrilling attendees

Roger Whyte