The upcoming White House Correspondents Association dinner is shaping up as the most popular ever for the journalism group.

Always a major social event in D.C., this year's gathering, set for May 1, appears to be drawing more interest than any in the recent past, according to WHCA President Ed Chen.

“It is the greatest demand ever for tables, for tables and seats,” Chen, a Bloomberg News correspondent, told me. “For the number of tables, we have never had this much demand.”

This year's event, moved back a few weeks because of renovations being done to the Washington Hilton, will be the second for President Barack Obama, who Chen said has already confirmed he will attend.

Entertainment headliner is Jay Leno, who also has served in that post before.

Chen could not account for the record interest, noting both Obama and Leno have been there before: “Leno has done it and it is not Obama's first time either. I don't know why.”

Only WHCA members are allowed to purchase tickets to the event, which often draws celebrity guests.

The WHCA this year has also made it a greener event, vowing to utilize more eco-friendly efforts than ever before.