The record-breaking achievement took place on July 17, 2008 when 16,206 members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority dined at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center as part of its Centennial Convention. Mayor Fenty, Councilmember Jack Evans, Ward 2, Alpha Kappa Alpha’s International President Barbara A. McKinzie, Centerplate’s CEO Des Hague and a delegation of business and hospitality leaders joined the Authority for the presentation of the coveted honor by Guinness adjudicator Danny Girton, Jr. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. “I applaud the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., for selecting the District of Columbia and the Washington Convention Center as the backdrop for their historic centennial celebration last summer.” As a result, AKA and the convention center together created an incredibly successful event that has garnered national attention. The District is the founding home of the sorority and is proud to share the Guinness World Record title with the sorority and look forward to many more record-breaking events.” “Earning the Guinness World Record recognizes a monumental effort on the part of our staff and our catering partner, Centerplate/NBSE,” said Gregory A. O’Dell, Washington Convention Center Authority CEO and general manager. “All along, our goal has been to serve our guests in Alpha Kappa Alpha with the same high level of service that they have extended to their communities over the past 100 years, and winning this award is proof of that commitment.”“Alpha Kappa Alpha is delighted that our dinner catapulted the Washington Convention Center Authority onto the Guinness World Records for the largest ever sit-down dinner ever held worldwide,” said Barbara A. McKinzie, international president, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. “It is a testimony to Alpha Kappa Alpha’s power, strength and over 100-year legacy of greatness that we created the occasion for this global achievement. It is also a tribute to the Washington Convention Center Authority’s excellence that the dinner was so memorable and historic.”

For the dinner, WCCA’s catering partner, Centerplate/NBSE prepared baby iceberg wedge salad, three tons of beef filet, served as Beef Wellington, along with 2.25 tons of mashed potatoes, 1,800 gallons of pink lemonade and thousands of individual “Pink Velvet” chocolate cakes with green icing. Alpha Kappa Alpha’s official colors are salmon pink and apple green. Centerplate/NBSE used approximately 300,000 dining utensils, and tableware was set against 3.5 miles of linen tablecloths and seven miles of pink and green napkins for the event.  To help accommodate the unprecedented number of attendees, Centerplate solicited assistance from wait staff throughout the East Coast. Centerplate’s network of chefs and convention center professionals borrowed personnel and equipment from New York, Denver and Dallas to assist.

In addition to the regular catering staff, Centerplate/NBSE brought in an additional 300 chefs, 46 managers, 65 captains, 32 distribution assistants and 1,200 waiters. "At Centerplate, we obsess about creating 'wow moments' for our clients, so we are thrilled to be recognized for our ability to blend superior service and great culinary talent with peerless technical skill and logistical innovation," said Des Hague, President and CEO of Centerplate. "But in the end, the opportunity to make sure that the guests attending the AKA Centennial had a wonderful experience was our main priority. Sharing this world record with Alpha Kappa Alpha, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, and everyone who participated is a real honor.” The previous world record was on April 28, 2001 where 11,483 people were guests at the world's largest silver service dinner party sponsored by Vodafone Group PLC at Earls Court in London. According to officials from the Guinness World Records, “Walter E. Washington Convention Center's world-class achievement is undeniably impressive."

The Sorority’s biennial conference drew more than 25,000 registered attendees and another 10,000 unregistered members, who spent millions of dollars on hotels, food and shopping during the week long convention. Washington hotels, restaurants and attractions developed an unparalleled array of themed cocktails, receptions and other programs to welcome the group, coordinated by Destination DC, the official convention and tourism corporation for Washington, D.C. In the end, the Sorority pumped over $100 million into the District of Columbia economy during the Convention, including money spent on hotel, food, shopping, goods and services.