LIME — Leisure Incentives Meetings Events

Supplier Code of Conduct

Last updated: 01/10/2026

LIME arranges events, conferences and travel across Africa and Europe. We do not own hotels, vehicles, lodges or venues. Almost everything our clients experience is delivered by someone else — which means the standards our suppliers hold are, in practice, the standards we deliver.

This code sets out what we expect from every business that works with us: hotels, lodges, venues, transport operators, guides, ground handlers, aviation providers, production and technical partners, caterers, and anyone they subcontract to.

It is not a statement of aspiration. Acceptance of it is a condition of working with us.

1. Legal compliance and licensing

Suppliers must:

1.1 comply with all applicable laws and regulations in every country in which they operate;

1.2 hold and maintain every licence, permit, registration and accreditation their activity requires, and produce evidence of these on request;

1.3 hold adequate public liability and, where applicable, passenger liability insurance, and provide certificates on request;

1.4 notify us promptly if any licence, permit or insurance lapses, is suspended or is withdrawn.

Where local law sets a lower standard than this code, this code applies. Where local law sets a higher standard, local law applies.

2. People

2.1 Human rights. Suppliers must respect internationally recognised human rights, and the rights of the local and indigenous communities in which they operate.

2.2 No child labour. No person under the age of 16, or under the minimum legal working age in the country of operation if higher, may be employed. Workers under 18 must not perform hazardous work or night work.

2.3 No forced labour. No forced, bonded, indentured or involuntary labour of any kind. No retention of identity documents, no recruitment fees charged to workers, and no restriction on a worker’s freedom to leave.

2.4 Fair employment. Written terms of employment, lawful wages paid on time, lawful working hours, and the rest periods required by law.

2.5 Freedom of association. Workers may join a trade union and bargain collectively where the law allows it, without penalty.

2.6 No discrimination. No discrimination on the basis of race, colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, political opinion, health status or union membership.

2.7 No harassment. No physical, verbal, psychological or sexual harassment, abuse of authority, or threats of any kind.

2.8 Health and safety. A safe workplace, appropriate training, protective equipment where required, and accessible first aid.

3. Child protection

This is not a subset of the clause above. It is a distinct obligation and we treat it as non-negotiable.

3.1 Suppliers must have a child protection policy and must not facilitate, permit or ignore the sexual exploitation of children in any form.

3.2 Staff in contact with children must be appropriately screened.

3.3 Orphanage visits, “voluntourism” placements involving children, and any activity that presents children as an attraction will not be included in a LIME programme.

3.4 Any suspicion of child exploitation must be reported to the relevant authority and to LIME immediately.

4. Road and transport safety

Ground transport carries the greatest physical risk in most programmes. Transport suppliers must:

4.1 operate vehicles that are roadworthy, lawfully licensed for passenger transport, and maintained to a documented schedule;

4.2 fit and require the use of seatbelts in every seat;

4.3 use drivers who hold the correct licence for the vehicle and passenger category — including a valid Professional Driving Permit where South African law requires one;

4.4 observe lawful driving-hours and rest limits, and not schedule journeys that cannot be completed within them;

4.5 enforce zero tolerance of alcohol and drugs for anyone driving;

4.6 carry a first-aid kit, a functioning means of communication, and a breakdown and emergency procedure;

4.7 report any accident or serious incident involving a LIME client to us immediately.

Aviation suppliers, including air charter operators, must hold a valid Air Operator Certificate and operate strictly within its terms.

5. Wildlife and animal welfare

We operate in destinations where wildlife is the reason people travel. Suppliers involved in any activity with animals must ensure the five freedoms:

  • freedom from hunger and thirst
  • freedom from discomfort
  • freedom from pain, injury and disease
  • freedom to express normal behaviour
  • freedom from fear and distress

With wild animals, suppliers must ensure that animals are not:

  • baited, fed or habituated to people
  • pursued, crowded or cut off from their route
  • touched, handled or ridden
  • disturbed by noise, spotlights or drones
  • approached in breach of park regulations or responsible viewing distances

LIME will not book, recommend or include in any programme:

  • riding of wild animals, including elephants
  • walking with, cub-petting or hands-on interaction with big cats
  • performing-animal shows
  • captive predator breeding, or any facility linked to canned hunting
  • any facility that cannot demonstrate a legitimate conservation or sanctuary purpose

Suppliers offering animal activities must hold the required licence, keep animals in appropriate conditions and space, provide adequate food and regular veterinary care, and must not train animals to perform unnatural behaviours.

6. Environment

Suppliers must:

  • 6.1 comply with environmental law and hold the permits their operations require;
  • 6.2 take reasonable steps to reduce energy and water consumption, waste, and single-use plastics;
  • 6.3 dispose of waste, including waste water and chemicals, lawfully and responsibly;
  • 6.4 protect the habitats, water sources and landscapes in which they operate;
  • 6.5 source locally where it is practical to do so.

7. Integrity

7.1 Anti-bribery and corruption. We operate a zero-tolerance policy. Suppliers must not offer, give, request or accept any bribe, kickback or improper payment, including facilitation payments, whether directly or through a third party. Suppliers must comply with all applicable anti-corruption law, including the South African Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004 and, where applicable, the laws of the other countries in which they and we operate.

7.2 Gifts and hospitality. Ordinary business hospitality and familiarisation visits are a normal part of this industry and are acceptable where they are proportionate, transparent and not intended to influence a specific decision. Anything of significant value offered to a LIME employee must be declined and reported to us.

7.3 Conflicts of interest. Suppliers must tell us promptly of any actual or potential conflict of interest, including any financial or personal connection between the supplier and a LIME employee or contractor.

7.4 Fair dealing. No price fixing, bid rigging, or collusion with other suppliers on a LIME enquiry.

7.5 Sanctions and financial crime. Suppliers must not be subject to applicable trade or financial sanctions, and must comply with anti-money-laundering law.

8. Confidentiality and client information

Much of our work involves senior executives, boards and high-profile individuals. Suppliers must:

  • 8.1 keep confidential all information about a LIME client, programme, guest or itinerary, during the engagement and afterwards;
  • 8.2 not disclose the identity of a client or guest, or the existence of a programme, to any third party;
  • 8.3 not photograph, film or record a LIME client or guest, and not publish or post any image, name or reference on social media, in marketing material or in any press release, without our prior written consent;
  • 8.4 restrict access to guest information to staff who need it to deliver the service.

9. Personal data

Suppliers receiving personal data from us — names, contact details, passport data, dietary, access or medical requirements — must:

9.1 use it only to deliver the service we have contracted, and for no other purpose;

9.2 not sell it, share it or use it for their own marketing;

9.3 apply appropriate technical and organisational security measures;

9.4 comply with applicable data protection law, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the South African Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013;

9.5 delete or return it when it is no longer needed;

9.6 notify us within 24 hours of becoming aware of any breach affecting data we provided;

9.7 not transfer it to another country or subcontractor without our prior written agreement.

Where required, a separate data processing agreement will apply and will prevail over this clause.

10. Subcontracting

Suppliers remain responsible for any subcontractor they use on a LIME programme, must flow these standards down to them, and must tell us in advance where a material part of the service will be delivered by someone else.

11. Raising a concern

Any person may report a concern about a LIME supplier, or about LIME itself, to info@lime-dmc.com.

Reports may be made in confidence. We will not permit retaliation against anyone who raises a concern in good faith, and we expect our suppliers to take the same position within their own organisations.

12. Compliance and consequences

12.1 We may ask a supplier to provide information, documentation or evidence of compliance with this code, and we expect a full and prompt response.

12.2 Where we have reasonable grounds for concern, we may ask for a site visit or an independent assessment.

12.3 Where a breach is capable of remedy, we will normally agree a timeframe for correction.

12.4 Where a breach is serious — including any breach of clause 3 (child protection), clause 2.2 or 2.3 (child or forced labour), clause 7.1 (bribery), or a safety breach placing people at risk — we will suspend or end the relationship immediately and report the matter to the relevant authority where required.

12.5 Acceptance of a LIME booking, contract or purchase order constitutes acceptance of this code.

13. Review

We will review this code at least every two years and may update it. The version published on our website is the current one.