Aufaga’s Seabreeze Resort has won a World Travel Award for most romantic resort, beating competition from Vanuatu, French Polynesia, Fiji and Tahiti.

They have also won Samoa’s Leading Hotel for the seventh consecutive year since 2013. 

Owners Chris and Wendy Booth attended the awards ceremony in Vietnam this week.

Previously, the resort has won the Excellence in Tourism and Best Deluxe awards in Samoa's Tourism annual award in 2017 and 2018.

Six other resorts from around the country were nominated for Leading Hotel, including 2010 winners Le Lagoto Resort and 2009 winner Sinalei Reef Resort and Spa. 

Seabreeze was destroyed in the 2009 Tsunami. Mr and Mrs Booth survived by clinging onto a handrail. The new resort built in its place was opened in November 2011.          

The World Travel Awards are the travel industry’s premier awards event, and are divided into regions with separate awards for different parts of the world.

Samoa also saw nominations in several other categories, including Samoa Airways for Oceania’s Leading Airline (won by Air New Zealand), Malaga Magazine for Leading Inflight Magazine (won by Kia Ora Magazine of Air New Zealand) and Samoa for Oceania’s Leading Destination (won by New Zealand).