Aga Reef Resort is the only Pacific resort up for the “Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World 2021,” an annual bracket-style competition run by Luxury Travel Advisor.

Out of the wide category of Africa, the Middle East and Oceania, Aga Reef Resort is now in the top 16 hotels and lauded for its “stunning lagoon views and private plunge pool.”

The bracket competition is a public vote, and Aga Reef is up against South African resort Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve and Wellness retreat, with votes closing on in the early hours of Tuesday morning (9am on Monday, Eastern Time). 

So far Aga Reef has nearly 60 per cent of the vote with 501 to Bushmans Kloof 349 votes. 

Luxury Travel Advisor is a news and trends site specialising in boutique and high-end accommodation and experiences, used mostly by travel agents.

Its Most Instagrammable Hotel competition is an annual round up of the most picturesque hotels across four regions in the world, and starts with 64 hotels.

Supporters can keep voting until 3am on Tuesday 30 March to see Aga Reef through to the next round, growing its online exposure and hopefully drawing visitors to Samoa when borders open.

In 2017, 2018 and 2019 Aga Reef won Best Relaxation Retreat in Australasia in the Boutique Hotel Awards.

The Government of Samoa hopes that within four years of the pandemic, Samoa will be back to welcoming tourists at full throttle, reaching pre-pandemic figures as high as 180,000 visitors by 2024 and hitting 400,000 by 2040.

In the meantime, the Lalomanu hotspot has had to get creative to stay afloat amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

To cater to local guests the boutique resort has significantly dropped its room prices, and reduced opening hours to weekends only, with extended weekends over the upcoming Easter and General Election public holidays.

Groups of six or more can book for mid-week getaways.