GLASGOW is gearing up for a gold rush.

Thousands of delegates are to jet to the city this year and splash out £150million on accommodation, meals, drinks, entertainment and shopping.

The indications are that 2014 will be the year of ­Glasgow and the eyes of the world will focus on the city in the summer when the curtain rises on the Commonwealth Games.

However, millions of pounds have already been injected into the local economy long before the first race is run.

Scott Taylor, chief ­executive of the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "To be honest it's the equivalent of having 10 ­European Cup finals in Glasgow."

He added: "This is just ­going to be a momentous year for Glasgow.

"There will be major ­conferences throughout the entire year and not just ­during the period of the Commonwealth Games.

"There will be the highest ever number of major conferences coming to Glasgow this year and many are coming to the city for the first time.

"There's virtually a ­conference every month coming into Glasgow."

The list is as impressive as it is varied and includes:

l 8500 delegates for the ­International Bible Students Association.

l 4000 jetting to the city to attend the European Breast Cancer Conference in March.

l The RenewableUK Offshore Wind Conference in June which will bring 3000 delegates.

l The Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society Europe Conference in September and the LibDems Autumn Conference in October, which will both attract 5000 delegates.

It is an added boost for a city set to welcome hundreds of thousands of spectators who are set to attend the Games in the summer.

Mr Taylor said: "The city is breathing a different ­oxygen level.

"The motivation and ­excitement is really ­ramping up. It is going to be a phenomenally exciting year for the people of Glasgow."

Emphasis is constantly placed on a lasting legacy created by the Games.

But in addition to the hundreds of millions invested in the city's infrastructure, the Games have also made international conference organisers take another look at the city.

Some have already brought delegates to ­Glasgow following the ­announcement, while others have booked the city in the coming years.

The International Bible Students Association is linked to Jehovah's ­Witnesses and the association held two conferences last year.

This year it plans to host Glasgow's biggest by ­bringing 8500 delegates to its Scottish annual conference.

Planners are so taken by the city they will be bringing the same event back to Glasgow for the next two years.

Mr Taylor said: "We are really delighted to have these conferences.

"They will have a big ­financial impact on the city."

This year it is estimated Games Legacy conferences will inject £42m into the city's economy from booking an hotel room to buying a pint of beer.

Mr Taylor said: "Winning the Commonwealth Games has been like putting a ­megaphone to Glasgow's voice.

"We are multiplying and magnifying that voice.

"It's like picking up a megaphone and turning the volume up."

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk