Best of Queensland Experiences Program
Give Visitors Something to Rave About
The Best of Queensland Experiences Program recognises tourism businesses that consistently deliver high-quality visitor experiences. Meeting the program’s criteria can help boost your online reputation, improve customer satisfaction, and increase your visibility to travellers looking for trusted experiences across Queensland.
Best of Queensland Experience Program
TEQ’s Best of Queensland Experiences Program (BOQEP) is based on an independent set of criteria that incorporates online customer reviews, responds to consumer expectations and reflects industry best practice. Each year the Best of Queensland Experiences Program assesses all tourism products with a live listing on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) against a set of five weighted criteria that total 100 points.
Tourism products require at least 80 points out of 100 to be identified as a Best of Queensland Experience.
We have compiled step by step resources to help tourism operators strive for the Best of Queensland Program Recognition
Why It Matters
The BOQEP was created to help Queensland’s tourism industry deliver exceptional visitor experiences that inspire people to stay longer, spend more, recommend Queensland to others and return in the future. By recognising businesses that consistently meet customer expectations and industry best practice, the program helps visitors identify experiences they can trust while providing operators with valuable insights to strengthen their business and remain competitive in a changing tourism landscape.
How to meet each BOQEP Criteria
…step by step…to get to the 80 points or higher to achieve BOQEP recognition
Step One: ATDW LISTING
Get Listed on ATDW before 31 December.
Super easy and valuable!
Step Two: exceptionAL experience delivery - 60 Points
This is the most important one, and one of the toughest criteria! Without it you won’t make the cut! But, you’ve got this!
Tourism products must consistently deliver an exceptional experience and receive at least 25 positive online customer reviews over a 12-month period (from 1 January – 31 December each year).
The BOQEP uses Review Pro a global company that aggregates online customer reviews on tourism products from over 175 global platforms, including TripAdvisor, Google, Booking.com, CTrip and many more. ReviewPro provide each operator with a Global Review Index™ (GRI) score out of 100 based on the consumer star/bubble ratings from online customer reviews of your experience.
Develop your Visitor Experience and Storytelling:
Experience development is the process of shaping every interaction a visitor has with a tourism business across the full journey – before, during and after their visit - to create memorable high-quality experiences that meet customer expectations
Learn More on Experience Development
Your story is one of your strongest points of difference, especially when it’s told simply and delivered consistently
Collect Reviews:
Create a Google link or QR code to request reviews
Currently, reviews QR codes can only be generated on a computer browser, not on mobile devices.
1. Go to your Business Profile.
2. Select Read Reviews >Get more reviews .
3. You can share the link or QR code directly or use the other options.
– To copy the review link, select Copy .
To download the QR code:
– Right-click the QR code.
– Select Save image as….
To make it easier for customers to leave reviews on your encourage them to use the link or QR code:
– Include it on your receipts
– Include it in thank you emails
– Add it at the end of a chat interaction
– Print and display the QR code in your store
Important: Learn more about Business Profile restrictions for policy violations.
Tip: You can also send review requests through email, WhatsApp message, or Facebook post.
STEP THREE: Online Bookings - 10 POINTS
Tourism products need to have their own website, and consumers must have the ability to instantly book their experience through a secure online booking platform. Online booking platforms must provide guests with an instant confirmation of the reservation.
· If you have a booking page, put the URL in your ATDW listing under the Contacts Menu
· If your business does not accept advance bookings from free independent travellers (FITs) through any method, whether this be online, via telephone or email, then you may apply for exemption from this criterion through BOQE Portal or email experiences@queensland.com.au
STEP FOUR: GOOGLE PROFILE – 10 POINTS
More people search for businesses online than anywhere else, so it’s important to make sure your business listing can be found easily on Google and Google Maps.
To meet this criteria, tourism products must have their Google Business Profile URL in the relevant field in their ATDW profile as at the program cut-off date.
· Put your Google Profile URLs in your ATDW listing under the Social Accounts Menu
STEP FIVE: Social Media Presence – 5 POINTS
In 2025 the social media criteria was simplified to be based on the operator having a presence on social media with an active Facebook and/or Instagram account, which remains the same.
Tourism products must have at least one active social media URL in the Facebook and/or Instagram field in their ATDW profile updated on ATDW by 31 December each year.
· Put your social media URLs in your ATDW listing under the Social Accounts Menu
STEP SIX: RTO Membership – 5 POINTS
Being here reading our advice we’re sure you’re already one of our valued members. As you know RTO membership shows that a business is actively engaged in the tourism industry and committed to improving its visitor experience
· Upload your membership to ATDW under the ‘Tourism Organisations section’ in the Admin Menu
Ensure this is complete by 31st December and has been published in ATDW.
As an FYI, this is audited, so no telling porky pies
STEP SEVEN: Accreditation – 5 POINTS
Businesses who undertake accreditation processes have adequate plans, policies and procedures in place to deliver better experiences and ensure their experiences are reliable, consistent and sustainable. Accreditation provides your business with the tools needed to help grow your experience
The Best of Queensland Experiences Program recognises a range of best practice accreditation programs. Operators must have their accreditation completed by the annual program cut-off date of 31 December in order for it to be counted
· Add to your ATDW profile under the Accreditation section’ in the Admin Menu
STEP EIGHT: SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATION – 5 POINTS
More than 75% of global travellers intend to travel more sustainably over the next 12 months (Booking.com Sustainable Tourism Report). A globally recognised sustainability certification demonstrates a business’s commitment to minimising negative impacts while maximising benefits for the environment, communities and culture.
A business must hold one of the eligible sustainability certifications as at the program cut-off date to be eligible for the 5 points. TEQ will get data from Ecotourism Australia and EarthCheck to assess this criteria.
· Add to your ATDW profile under the Accreditation section’ in the Admin Menu
