(Seychelles News Agency) - Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa has been named the ‘Best Destination Wedding Property in Africa’ for 2018. 

The announcement was made last month at the Destination Wedding Planners congress -- an exclusive conference that is focused on luxury destination weddings -- at Atlantis, The Palm Hotel in Dubai.

Hilton Seychelles Labriz is a luxury resort with 111 private villas located on Silhouette, the third-biggest island of Seychelles. In 2018 more than 200 couples said “I do!” at the resort.

The event and celebration manager, Nichole Celestine, at the three Hilton properties in Seychelles said winning the award was a fantastic achievement as there is a lot of competition to organise weddings in the island nation.

“To be elected the best 'Destination Wedding Property' in the entire African region is something we are proud of. We have had a great few months and won quite a few awards for our sustainability projects, the Blue Energy commitment and others but this award will definitely get a place on our top shelves,” said Celestine.

It was the resort’s passion for sustainable tourism that might have played an important part in the judges’ decision. (Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa) Photo License: All Rights Reserved

The three Hilton properties in Seychelles are Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, Northolme and Double Tree, with the last two located on Mahe.

She added that it was the resort’s passion for sustainable tourism that might have played an important part in the judges’ decision.

Hilton Labriz is making a lot of efforts to be eco-friendly and the resort has worked on different projects to reduce its carbon footprint and become 'green,' including the wedding department.

“We are preparing more and more weddings without using plastic for example and the decor and accessories used are as much as possible made of natural materials. Sustainability becomes more and more important to travellers and for us. At Hilton it is a given and part of our global DNA,” she said. 

Celestine added that being the only hotel on Silhouette, Hilton Labriz also has many romantic corners for couples to celebrate their special day, including its beaches and the gigantic grey granite rocks.

Silhouette Island located 20 km northwest of Mahe, the main island, also has a 200-year-old plantation house --  Grann Kaz in Creole -- which houses a Creole restaurant and museum dedicated to the previous owner of the island, the Dauban Family.

A group photo of married couples with staff and former event planner Serena Di Fiore. (Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa) Photo License: All Rights Reserved

Celestine said the resort also makes use of the plantation house for the weddings, giving the clients the vibe of the old days and the island’s history and Creole tradition.

“We go the extra mile and seeing a couple’s cries of joy and being thanked for your hard work in their speech makes you feel like being more than “just” a wedding planner. We have worked so hard to ensure that each and every one of our wedding couples were not happy, but ecstatic about their wedding journey,” said Celestine.

She added that the Destination Wedding Planners Congress was an amazing networking opportunity and the resort is already looking forward to all the workshops and training opportunities in 2020.

“Doubtlessly this award will elevate our resort to an even higher level and will give us the chance to be the scene of many more magic weddings in the future,” concluded Celestine.