More than 200 tourism professionals are expected to converge in Charleston for the Southeast Tourism Society's Fall Forum today through Thursday.
This is the first time the Southeast Tourism Society has held a meeting in Charleston and only the second time it has held a meeting in West Virginia.
"We're really looking forward to it," said Jama Jarrett, vice president of operations and communications for the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau. "We've been working many, many days to prepare for it."
This year's theme is "Use Your Outdoor Voice: Discover New Adventures," which challenges tourism professionals to expand their outdoor market beyond standard hiking and biking offerings.
This year's keynote speaker is award-winning Andrew McCarthy, actor and director turned editor-at-large at National Geographic. McCarthy will speak on the Transformative Power of Travel.
"He has a humorous and knowledgeable approach," Jarrett said. "We are very excited to have him in town. He won't be here long, but hopefully he'll get a chance to see what Charleston has to offer."
Local guest speakers include Frank DeBerry, president and chief operating officer of Snowshoe Mountain Resort, and Heidi Prior, director of marketing for ACE Adventure Resort in Fayetteville.
The CVB will also host a "Real Wild & Wonderful West Virginia Street Fair" Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Capitol Street between Quarrier and Lee will be closed for the event, which will feature food, drinks and entertainment from across the state.
Tourism is big business in West Virginia. Domestic and international travelers to the state spent $2.9 billion in 2013, supporting 27,977 jobs with a payroll of $527 million, and generating federal, state and local tax receipts of $361 million, according to a press release provided by the Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Members of the Southeast Tourism Society include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.