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Celebrate World Cup with football camp at Lily Beach Resort by Football Freestyle Guinness World Record Holder Marcel Gurk

The Football World Cup 2022 is right around the corner – the lively football event is set to start in November of this year. Let’s celebrate the World Cup by having a Football Camp in the Maldives where guests can learn some Football Freestyle tricks from the best and also have some Football Training as well. Lily Beach Resort & Spa in the Maldives is set to welcome multiple Guinness World Record holder for football freestyle, Marcel Gurk, in October of this year. The German football freestyle star will be leading workshops at the premium all-inclusive resort in the Maldives for one week – as well as basking in the Maldivian sunshine & hospitality and living the Lily Life.
During Marcel’s stay at the leading all-inclusive resort in the Maldives, as part of World Cup Football Camp event, he’ll be offering guests lessons and workshops, and sharing some of his professional tips and tricks. Guests will be able to enjoy his complimentary 5-day football freestyle clinic as well as opt for private lessons on request for a fee. He also will have a 2-day Football Training class specially curated from his many similar camps that he conducts all around the world. While during his stay, he will also be putting on two football freestyle shows for the guests, showing off the best Guinness World Records-worthy tricks. In addition to that, there will be some fun football matches together with him and other football fans on the island to have not only some learning of tricks but also getting active and burning some calories after eating all that tasty food at the resort.


There is much in store to celebrate the World Cup while at the resort. For instance, on the food & beverages side during this period for a limited time only, the resort will be offering some speciality drinks and food of the major teams competing in the World Cup. In addition, guests joining the football event will get awesome goodies with t-shirts and water bottles and other awards up for grabs when winning special games held everyday after the trainings. The resort plans to have face painting available during this period as well so that guests can showcase their favourite team with fun face paint. The resort urges all guests staying during this period to get in on the fun by bringing along and proudly wearing a jersey of your favourite World Cup team and also to make sure to bring a fun costume to wear during our annual Halloween Parade which happens on the 31st of October. Marcel will be also joining in with the Halloween festivities by bringing his own unique costume this year as well.
Marcel Gurk is the reigning German football freestyle champion, a successful book author, holds 10 Guinness World Records, and is one of the best football freestylers in the world. He made it to the semi-finals in ‘Das Supertalent’, and travels around the world as a football freestyler and social media star – thrilling the audience with his extraordinary tricks.
Lily Beach’s Director of Sales & Marketing, Desislav Gospodinov said: “After multiple successful collaborations with him and receiving glowing feedback from guests for creating an unforgettable experience for their kids and themselves, we knew that we had to bring him and his team back again. During this Halloween and a time leading up to World Cup, to have someone like Marcel coming here is a huge opportunity for our guests to learn something novel such as football freestyling from one of the best freestylers in the world. This exciting activity happening in tandem with celebrating the World Cup and your favourite teams, will certainly be a highlight for our guests of all ages during this School Holidays period (in Europe) and also an opportunity for some of our repeater guests who experienced the camp previously to come again and show how much they have improved and learn more tricks from Marcel as well.”


Marcel will be on hand at Lily Beach from October 22nd to October 31st, just in time to enjoy the resort’s Halloween celebrations happening at the end of October. As Marcel says, “All you need is a ball,” so come on down to Lily Beach during this vacation to have a ball of a time.
He will also be showcasing the resort on his social media – doing some football freestyle tricks throughout the island.
To find out more about the World Cup Football Camp happening this October at Lily Beach and book a stay at the resort, send an email to: reservations@lilybeachmaldives.com
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Conrad Maldives Rangali Island achieves PADI Eco Center Certification

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island has been officially certified as a PADI Eco Center, becoming one of only two resorts in the Maldives to receive this recognition in 2025. The certification is awarded to dive resorts that extend their efforts beyond standard operations, with a strong focus on protecting marine environments and raising awareness among future generations.
As part of the certification process, the resort’s team adopted the Conrad House Reef through PADI’s Adopt the Blue programme. A Dive Against Debris clean-up dive was conducted around the reef near Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, during which 10 kilograms of marine litter, primarily plastics and metal fragments, were collected.
The team also joined Green Fins in June 2025 and has since introduced a series of sustainable practices. These include paperless dive check-ins, eco-briefings before excursions, reduced use of plastics through the introduction of glass alternatives, and signage encouraging responsible snorkelling and diving across the dive centre.
Guests are also directly engaged in conservation activities through coral restoration initiatives. In 2025, the team has facilitated 17 coral line adoptions, where participants attend an educational session before attaching coral fragments to nursery lines and assisting with their placement underwater.
Jessica Miller, Marine Biologist at Conrad Maldives, commented: “This certification represents a milestone for us. It’s the result of dedicated teamwork and genuine care for the ocean. Watching our guests become part of the solution, whether through coral planting or learning about local marine life, is what makes this so special.”
Nick Flynn, General Manager of Conrad Maldives, added: “We’re incredibly proud of the team’s achievement in making Conrad Maldives a certified PADI Eco Center. This milestone is part of our long-term commitment to sustainability and a testament to how luxury and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.”
Ranjit Batra, Chief Executive Officer of Ventive Hospitality, the owning company of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, highlighted the wider significance of the achievement. He said: “The PADI Eco Center recognition for Conrad Maldives Rangali Island underscores our commitment to protecting marine ecosystems while shaping the future of responsible travel. We are proud of Conrad for leading the way in sustainability across the Maldives.”
The certification strengthens Conrad Maldives’ broader sustainability objectives under Hilton’s Travel With Purpose programme. The resort will continue to offer educational dives, coral adoption opportunities, and conservation briefings, encouraging guests to actively participate in marine protection efforts during their stay.
Conrad Maldives Rangali Island operates under Hilton and is part of Hilton Honors®, the global guest loyalty programme. Hilton Honors members booking directly through official Hilton channels receive a range of benefits, including exclusive discounts, free standard Wi-Fi, flexible payment options combining Points and money, and contactless technology via the Hilton Honors mobile app, which enables digital check-in, room selection, and access.
Excursions
Marine encounters: spinner dolphins at Canareef Resort Maldives

At Canareef Resort Maldives, one of the most popular experiences for guests is the dolphin tour. The abundant presence of dolphins in the surrounding waters ensures that each cruise offers a remarkable encounter with these marine creatures, creating lasting memories for visitors.
Every dolphin tour at Canareef provides an opportunity to observe pods of dolphins gliding and leaping across the waves. Guests often describe the sight of spinner dolphins darting through the clear ocean as a defining image of the Maldives’ natural marine beauty.
Morning cruises and sunset tours alike are guided by experienced staff, who share insights as dolphins appear in their natural environment. Many guests recount moments when dolphins swim alongside the boat, a spectacle that creates a unique sense of connection.
The activity is regarded as more than just an excursion; it is considered a celebration of nature and a highlight of a stay at Canareef. It allows guests to experience the Maldives in a way that underlines why dolphins are seen as ambassadors of the islands.
For travellers seeking encounters with dolphins amid turquoise waters, Canareef presents an ideal opportunity. The resort also offers seasonal promotions, including early booking discounts for the remainder of this summer, next winter, and summer 2026.
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Dusit Thani Maldives offers direct access to Baa Atoll’s living reef

At Dusit Thani Maldives, the experience of the ocean begins directly at the doorstep. Situated within the UNESCO-protected Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve, the resort is surrounded by one of the most vibrant house reefs in the country, offering guests the opportunity to explore a thriving underwater world just steps from their villa.
What distinguishes the resort is its 360-degree house reef. Each villa, whether set above the lagoon or along the beach, opens directly onto the water. Guests can enter the ocean within moments of leaving their deck, where coral gardens, schools of tropical fish, and turtles can often be seen. The seamless access allows families, beginners, and experienced snorkellers to engage with the reef naturally, without the need to plan or schedule an excursion.
The location within the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve makes every swim a part of a wider story of conservation and discovery. Recognised globally for its corals and tropical marine life, the reserve becomes a key gathering site for manta rays and whale sharks during the season. Around the reef, visitors can observe parrotfish, angelfish, eagle rays, and reef sharks, making it a living example of biodiversity and preservation.
Life at the resort is centred on this connection with the sea. Guests may begin their day with a morning swim, take part in a guided snorkelling safari with marine experts, and conclude by observing the coral gardens as they take on new colours in the evening light. The ocean becomes not simply a backdrop but an integral part of daily life.
The PADI-certified Dive and Watersports Centre further enhances this relationship with the ocean, offering night snorkels, freediving, drift dives, and marine education programmes designed for families. Guests are supported to safely explore the biodiversity of the atoll at their own level, whether through a gentle introduction or more advanced diving experiences.
Jean-Louis Ripoche, Area General Manager, Dusit Maldives, noted that snorkelling at the resort is not treated as an activity but as part of the rhythm of island life. He explained that the reef begins where the villa deck ends, allowing guests the freedom to explore the ocean at their own pace and making the location distinctive in its accessibility and natural beauty.
At Dusit Thani Maldives, the distinction between villa and ocean fades away. From sighting turtles at sunrise to drifting beside reef sharks at dusk, every moment reinforces the natural character of the Maldives and the unique setting of the resort.
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