Centerplate, Inc. News
Walter E. Washington Convention Center to Host Largest-Ever Sit-Down Dinner During AKA Conference
WASHINGTON, July 15 PRNewswire — On Thursday, July 17, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and its catering partner, Centerplate/NBSE, will host the largest-known banquet-style dinner in the history of conventions worldwide. The dinner is being held by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., for 17,600 guests, a number that has continued to increase as the date approaches. AKA is the oldest Greek-letter organization founded by African-American college women and is meeting at the Convention Center through July 18 to celebrate the centennial anniversary of its founding.
Centerplate/NBSE will use approximately 300,000 dining utensils, and tableware will be set against 3.5 miles of linen table cloths and seven miles of pink and green napkins for the event. To help accommodate the unprecedented number of attendees, the Center's catering operation has solicited assistance from wait staff throughout the East Coast. Centerplate's network of chefs and convention center professionals has loaned personnel and equipment from New York, Denver and Dallas to assist.
"In addition to the regular catering staff, Centerplate/NBSE will bring in an additional 300 chefs, 46 managers, 65 captains, 32 distribution assistants and 1,200 waiters," said Washington Convention Center Authority Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Gregory A. O'Dell. Attendees will dine on a baby iceberg wedge salad, Beef Wellington, Mediterranean purses and a specialty desert of "pink velvet" chocolate cake with green icing.
The menu for the dinner will include the following: — 3 tons of beef filet — 2.25 tons of mashed potatoes — 1,800 gallons of pink lemonade
"The staff at the Convention Center has spent several months preparing for the Sorority's arrival," O'Dell continued. "Our goal is to serve those attending this conference with the same high level of service that Alpha Kappa Alpha has extended to its communities over the past 100 years."
To accommodate dinner attendees, the Convention Center will make the following arrangements:
— Ballrooms A, B and C will be set for 3,000 — Halls D/E will change from a theater setting for 13,745 to banquet seating for 8,000 — Hall B will change from a theater setting for 11,700 to banquet seating for 6,600
Should the Center reach capacity, the Grand Hyatt Ballroom, located at 1000 H Street, N.W., is prepared to accommodate an overflow of as many as 3,000 guests.
The Sorority's biennial conference will draw more than 25,000 registered attendees and another 10,000 unregistered members, who will spend millions of dollars on hotels, food and shopping during the week-long convention.
The Sorority's mission and programmatic theme of Economics, Service and Partnerships is being fulfilled by a host of Washington-based minority businesses that have been contracted to provide support for this conference. In addition, Washington hotels, restaurants and attractions have developed an unparalleled array of themed cocktails, receptions and other programs to welcome the group, coordinated by Destination DC, the official convention & tourism corporation for Washington, D.C.
The centennial meetings and festivities will include a keynote address by Mae Jemison, American physician, former NASA astronaut and Sorority member. There will also be a concert performance by Patti LaBelle and an honorary sorority induction of Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
About the Washington Convention Center Authority
The Washington Convention Center Authority was established for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, equipping, maintaining, and operating a new convention center in the District of Columbia. The Authority engages in activities deemed appropriate to promote trade shows, conventions, and other events closely related to activities of the Convention Center.
Since opening its doors in 2003, the 2.3-million-square-foot Walter E. Washington Convention Center has proven to be essential to the economy of the District of Columbia, generating approximately $500 million annually. For more information about the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, call 202-249-3012 or visit http://www.dcconvention.com.
About Centerplate, Inc.
Centerplate, Inc., with its principal executive office in Stamford, CT, crafts and delivers extraordinary entertainment experiences in more than 130 prominent sports, entertainment and meeting venues across North America. Centerplate has provided its services to many high profile events including 24 World Series games, 9 U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 11 Super Bowls, including Super Bowl XLII in February 2008, 9 NCAA Final Four Men's Basketball Tournaments and 14 World Cup Soccer Games. Visit the company online at http://www.centerplate.com.
About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is America's first Greek-letter organization founded in 1908 by, and for, African-American college women. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, it is one of the world's leading service organizations. The Sorority's members have made a commitment "to serve all mankind" through a nucleus of more than 200,000 women in over 975 chapters in the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Korea, Japan and in the continent of Africa. Barbara A. McKenzie is the 27th International President. Because her term coincides with the 100-year anniversary, she is being hailed as the "Centennial National President." McKenzie's administration is marked by the theme: ESP, which stands for Economics, Service and Partnerships. For more information, log on to http://www.aka1908.com.
SOURCE Washington Convention Center Authority
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