Traditional ballroom-style awards ceremonies are no longer hitting the mark for today’s top performers, according to 30 Euston Square’s delivered business.

With the workplace now a more casual environment, employee recognition has shifted from black-tie formality and lengthy banquet dinners to engaging, streamlined experiences that resonate better with attendees’ preferences. Reflecting this shift, 30 Euston Square has seen a growing demand for its Auditorium & Exhibition Hall as an awards venue, offering a more dynamic and informal setting that appeal to today’s workforce.

In line with this trend, 30 Euston Square recorded a 20% year-on-year increase in requests to host awards ceremonies in the Auditorium rather than traditional ballroom spaces, such as their State Rooms. This move has resulted in a remarkable 260% rise in delegate numbers for these events.

Attendees now seek personalised, interactive experiences with a focus on content, better visibility through tiered seating, and fewer distractions—benefits that the Auditorium setting provides, over banquet style round table formats. Meanwhile, the Exhibition Hall’s reception-style layout encourages mingling and networking, offering an open, relaxed environment that suits today’s expectations for social connection.

Add in an acceptance of hybrid formats and the ease of screening in participants and speakers from around the globe and auditorium-style ceremonies are demonstrably the new hot ticket item. Choosing an auditorium over a traditional ballroom space offers clients superior acoustics, advanced technology, tiered seating for optimal visibility, and a more inclusive atmosphere—ultimately enhancing engagement and keeping the focus on the event’s core content.

In response to the evolving nature of awards ceremonies, 30 Euston Square has created a special awards ceremony package priced from £89pp +VAT, which includes evening hire of the Auditorium and its networking space and a three-hour drinks reception with both canapé and bowl food options.  

CJ Alves, Head of Sales, Events & Marketing at 30 Euston Square, says: “Our 300-seat tiered Auditorium is a central feature of the venue and it’s fast becoming the top choice for awards ceremonies. The changing face of the workforce has meant that employee recognition has shifted to a new modern format, and our Auditorium provides a versatile space that delivers an engaging, immersive experience suited to the expectations of today’s audiences. We’re also seeing a greater emphasis on networking receptions with clients favouring guests being able to mingle, socialise and make connections rather than sat around a table for three hours!”

To find out more or to book an awards ceremony in the Auditorium, visit 30 Euston Square’s website or contact the events team at 30eustonsquare@searcys.co.uk or call 020 8453 4610.