CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and tourism officials say Charleston will host a Southern tourism conference in February 2014.

The Travel South Showcase is expected to attract more than 500 delegates to West Virginia's capital city over three days. Tomblin and Mayor Danny Jones announced the city's selection on Tuesday and described the conference as an invitation-only marketplace for Southern tourism organizations to connect with tour operators developing tours in the region.

Tomblin and Jones said the gathering will offer the city and the state an opportunity to showcase its own attractions.