OVERSEAS delegates are expected to pump millions of pounds into the city's economy when they fly into Glasgow for a medical conference.

The city saw off competition from Munich, Germany, and the Swedish capital of Stockholm for the right to host the European Society of Hypertension and the International Society of Hypertension (ESH/ISH) Joint Scientific Congress.

More than 4000 delegates from around the globe are expected to attend.

And although it's not due to be held at the SECC for another six years, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau is predicting delegates will spend a whopping £6 million in city hotels, restaurants, bars and shops during the four-day event.

City council leader and bureau chairman, councillor Gordon Matheson, said: "Conferencing business forms an integral part of the city's economic strategy.

"Securing the ESH/ISH Joint Scientific Congress 2020, at a time when global competition in the market is incredibly fierce, is fantastic news for Glasgow and underpins exactly why we are not just Scotland's conference capital, but one of the world's premier business tourism cities."

The winning bid was a successful collaboration involving a number of organisations and institutes, including the marketing bureau, the British Hypertension Society and the University of Glasgow.

Dr Anna Dominiczak, of the European Society of Hypertension, said: "It's fantastic that we've succeeded in bringing the joint ESH/ISH meeting to Glasgow. It will be good for the city and will strengthen Glasgow's position as a major international centre of excellence in hypertension."

Professor Rhian Touyz, of the International Society of Hypertension, added: "It is an acknowledgement of the world leading research into hypertension taking place at the University of Glasgow."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk