We’ve prepared a guide to the various Business Tourism industry terms, acronyms and South Africanisms that you’ll encounter on this web site.

Bosberaad
Consultation, away from disruptions, in the healing surrounds of the African bush. A business breakaway into the bush can do much to de-stress the business person and allow room for contemplation and innovative thinking as well as team building around a shared vision of the company’s future.

Business Tourism
A trip which is undertaken with the purpose of attending a conference, meeting, exhibition, event or as part of an incentive. Business Tourism covers the provision of facilities and services to the millions of delegates who annually attend meetings, congresses, exhibitions, business events, incentive travel, and corporate hospitality.

Business Tourism Trade
Meeting planners, professional congress organizing company (PCO), exhibition organisers, incentive houses, destination management company (DMC), association management company (AMC), event organizing company, exhibition services provider (NB not meeting industry trade shows)

Business Travel
A trip which is undertaken with the purpose of conducting commercial or formal transactions or activities that are related to your job e.g. visiting a client, signing deals, negotiating a contract (including import/export), etc.

Conference
Participatory meeting designed for discussion, fact-finding, problem solving and consultation. As compared with a congress, a conference is normally smaller in scale and more select in character — features which tend to facilitate the exchange of information. The term "conference" carries no special connotation as to frequency. Though not inherently limited in time, conferences are usually of limited duration with specific objectives.

Congress
An association meeting usually made up of delegates from constituent organizations.

Exhibition
Events at which products and services are displayed.

ICCA
International Congress and Convention Association

Imbizo
A meeting for the people to discuss matters of major import with their leaders. An Imbizo brings together national leaders and representatives of their people. At an Imbizo hierarchy is subverted, every individual’s view counts and consultation is genuine.

Incentive
An event or activity or experience that forms part of a meetings programme which is offered to its participants to reward a previous performance. This can include leisure travel.

Leisure Travel
Output where “General Holiday” and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) is the primary purpose of visit.

Lekgotla
A meeting of all members of the tribe at a central meeting place to discuss matters of concern. A lekgotla brings together a region or a tribe. By learning from the lekgotla tradition, western companies can manage inspiration rather than just products, and flatten structures of management and ease transformation processes.

Meetings
General term indicating the coming together of a number of people in one place, to confer or carry out a particular activity. Frequency: can be on an ad hoc basis or according to a set pattern, as for instance annual general meetings, committee meetings, etc.

Meetings: Associations
Meetings of professional associations, industry associations, non-governmental organisations and academic groups. Exchange information, network with other professionals. Learn and develop their subject areas.

Small: < 250 participants
Medium: 250–1000 participants
Large: > 1000 participants

Meetings: Corporate
Business-related meetings of private companies, sometimes including customers, suppliers and other external role-players. Sometimes include other corporate events such as exhibitions and product launches

Meetings: Inter-Governmental
Meetings of representatives of governments and government institutionsUsually within multi-lateral or regional organisations / institutions, to negotiate relationships, set regional policy on key issues or set regional investment agendas

Regional and Continental Inter-Governmental Meetings (e.g. SADC, NEPAD, AU)International Inter-Governmental Forums (e.g. WTO, WEF, World Bank, UNDP, UNCTAD)Large Inter-Governmental Summit Meetings (e.g. WSSD, HIV / AIDS, WCAR)

Ubuntu
“Ubuntu” is essentially a phrase that defines an African view of the world in which the individual is never alienated. Ubuntu means, in essence, that we are who we are through our interactions with others. This does not rule out individual strivings and aspirations. But it does reflect a world view that is an antidote to raw capitalism red in tooth and claw. By respecting everyone’s dignity, no matter how humble, and by listening to what people have to say, Ubuntu binds up the wounds of society and makes the whole community a winner.