In 2026, I made a decision. I didn’t want to share about Google Maps only through posts, comments, or online discussions anymore. While online sharing is powerful, I felt that something was missing: real conversations, real faces, and real-time learning together.
I wanted to sit down with people in person. I wanted us to open our laptops and smartphones together, look at the Google map of our country, and discuss what we see that is correct, what is missing, and what can be improved. I wanted the learning to be practical, not theoretical. Simple, honest conversations about how we actually use Google Maps every day.
That is why I created a meet-up on Local Guides Connect called “Mastering Google Maps.”
The idea was simple: not a formal workshop, not a big conference, but a practical sharing session. No complex technical slides. No complicated terminology. Just real examples from Cambodia, our streets, our local businesses, our real map issues.
Since I already had a mission trip planned to Takeo, I thought, why not make the most of the opportunity? Instead of organizing only one session, I decided to host two sessions on the same day, one in Takeo in the morning and another in Phnom Penh in the afternoon.
[In-Person] Cambodia, February 21, #1-2026: Mastering Google Maps – Community Sharing in Takeo
In Takeo, the focus was on helping participants understand that Google Maps is more than navigation. We explored how to search properly, how to identify add missing, how to suggest edits, and how to write helpful reviews. Many small businesses in provincial areas are not aware that they can claim their Google Business Profile. We discussed why this matters and how accurate information can support local economic growth.
After finishing the session in Takeo, I travelled back to Phnom Penh by motorbike in the afternoon. It was a bit rushed, but it was the same road — and I didn’t want the day to go to waste. So at 3:00 PM, we continued with another “Mastering Google Maps” session in Phnom Penh.
[In-Person] Cambodia, February 20, #2-2026: Mastering Google Maps – Community Sharing in Phnom Penh
The Phnom Penh discussion went deeper into urban map issues — duplicate locations, incorrect opening hours, low-quality reviews, and businesses that have not claimed their listings. Some participants had been using Google Maps for years, but they had never reflected on how a single rating or sentence in a review could impact a real business.
For me, these two meet-ups were not just events. They were part of a larger mission: to make the Local Guides community in Cambodia more active, more responsible, and more connected.
I don’t organize meet-ups to show how active I am. I organize them because I believe communities need someone to start. If no one begins, everything stays silent.
I hope that one day, more Local Guides across Cambodia in different provinces will host their own meet-ups, share their own knowledge, and strengthen the community together. When that happens, it will be a true success for all of us.
Starting from Takeo to Phnom Penh on the same day was not about hosting two events. It was about proving that if we decide to begin, growth is possible.
And for me, Google Maps is not just a tool. It is a shared public platform that we all have the responsibility to improve together.
— Sophat
