After months of courting delegates from 63 countries, Houston will soon learn if it will be chosen as the site for the 2014 World Petroleum Congress. The prestigious event brings heads of state, energy leaders and technology practitioners together in one place to address global oil and gas issues.

Houston seems a logical fit for the WPC, considering its role as a domestic oil and gas hub, but the city is also competing against Moscow and Bogota, Columbia, for hosting rights. Jorge Franz, vice president of the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, says Houston’s affordability and close oil and gas ties make it an enticing choice, but he’s taking a wait-and-see approach.

“Every vote counts,” Franz says.

He is part of a local delegation going to Beijing, China, later this month, where the host city will be voted on by secret ballot and the winning city announced. Each city is allowed to wow voters with a party and both Moscow and Bogota have already thrown theirs. Houston gets its turn in Beijing and Franz says the event will be truly special.

If Houston is chosen to host the WPC, attendees will have the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at local companies' most innovative technology, a perk the other two cities can’t offer. Winning the bid would also be a boost to the local economy, since more than 9,000 delegates from around the world will fill hotels, restaurants and convention space.

The city got an extra boost from Mayor Annise Parker and the 51-member Houston WPC bid committee that included lead sponsors Chevron, ConocoPhillips, the Houston CVB, Emirates and Shell Oil Company. Other sponsors include Apache Corp., Aramco Services, Co., Cameron, ExxonMobil, Opportunity Houston and Marathon Oil. Houston hosted the WPC in 1987.

The conference is tentatively slated for Sept. 28-Oct. 2, 2014.