A Grand Recap: Celebrating 11 Years of Local Guides & 10 Years of Connect! 🎉

Connections & celebrations
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AI generated banner celebrating a global community milestone.
AI generated banner celebrating a global community milestone.1920×1072 509 KB

Wow! :astonished_face: What an unbelievable wave of enthusiasm and community spirit we’ve witnessed as we celebrated two monumental milestones: 11 Years of Local Guides and 10 Years of Connect! The energy spanning the globe has been truly inspiring :sparkles:, and we’re still buzzing :star_struck: from all the incredible moments, stories, and photographs shared across the continents.

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This celebration wasn’t just about looking back at over a decade of incredible contributions; it was about coming together :hugs:, sharing our endless passion for exploration :world_map:, and reaffirming our commitment to making Google Maps a richer, more helpful resource for everyone. And let me tell you—you all showed up in a big way! :raising_hands:

:globe_showing_europe_africa: The Global Impact in Numbers

Speaking of coming together, the numbers speak volumes about the vibrant spirit of connection within our community. An astounding 58 Meet-ups were hosted by 50 unique Local Guides worldwide :globe_showing_americas:, each one a testament to the power of in-person and virtual collaboration!

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From sharing hidden gems :gem_stone: to ensuring businesses are accurately represented and hosting accessibility walks :wheelchair_symbol:, every meet-up played a vital role. We are thrilled to announce that Local Guides from 11 different countries (plus 2 amazing Global virtual events!) rallied together to mark this special occasion.

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:bar_chart: Country-Wise Summary

A massive shout-out :loudspeaker: to the energy from the Indian and Indonesian Local Guides communities! Your passion was remarkable. Here is the country-by-country breakdown of the meet-ups:

  • India: 22

  • Indonesia: 17

  • Mexico: 6

  • DRC: 3

  • USA: 2

  • Global: 2

  • UK: 1

  • Brazil: 1

  • Bangladesh: 1

  • Malaysia: 1

  • Sri Lanka: 1

  • Pakistan: 1

:handshake: Host-Wise Summary

Our community is nothing without the incredible Local Guides who step up to host. A huge thank you to these amazing community leaders who took the initiative to bring people together:

Super Hosts (Multiple Meet-ups):

Amazing Hosts: @Ajitthite, @AmbrishVarshney, @Andhyka, @AnisaAe, @Avillac, @Bere_Marichi, @cuicani, @deepakjhic, @Dinithea, @doc_dells, @doni_hariadi, @Erna_LaBeau, @Eshan_Noa, @Globe_trotter_Ish, @glosings0n, @GuruKrishnaPriya, @irulmusmus, @Janis_delaluz, @Jayasimha78, @SharmaK, @Khazastronaut, @kumaarsantosh, @LaloPadilla, @LightRich, @MayuriKubal, @MerlinThomas, @Mikeinthefalls, @NandKK, @NunungAfuah, @peteMHW, @praniketmore, @PremalPatel, @ravindus, @Rialyzara, @RJSheetal, @RogerOhayashi, @Yannick_S @RosyKohli, @RtnArulPrakasamT, @Rushabh, @Sarbland, @SayliWalve, @SonamW, @StephenAbraham, @SYED_BKSC, @Tejal, @TravellerG, @Vikramsingh_Valera, @Yannick_S

This dual celebration wasn’t just a series of events :tada:; it was a powerful reminder of the impact we make collectively. Thank you :folded_hands: to every Local Guide who participated, hosted, wrote a recap, and continues to make a difference :raising_hands:.

Here’s to many more years of discovery, connection, and contribution :glowing_star:! Keep exploring :woman_walking:, keep sharing :speaking_head:, and keep being the amazing Local Guides you are! :sparkles:

Regards,

Naresh Darji and @KashifMisidia

#LocalGuides11 #10YearsOfConnect #CommunityLove #GlobalCelebration

Meet-ups Connections & celebrations

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[In-Person] India, July 15, 🎉 #LGConnectTurns10 - Meet & Greet Celebration
Recap: [In-Person] India, July 15, 🎉 #LGConnectTurns10 - Meet & Greet Celebration
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Thank you so much for this inspiring recap! :raising_hands: It’s amazing to see the global Local Guides community come together like this. Congratulations to all the hosts, especially the incredible teams from India and Indonesia!

I’m a Level 7 Local Guide from Bangladesh and relatively new to the community. I’m really motivated by seeing what’s possible when Local Guides collaborate and contribute. I’d love to learn from experienced guides like you—do you have any tips or advice for someone looking to grow and make a bigger impact in the Local Guides community? Any specific types of contributions or strategies that have helped you level up?

Thanks again for organizing and celebrating this milestone! :world_map:

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Woah… Super Host All from Indonesia… @AnisaAe @ISAIKBALULSURUR @Dinithea
Congrats to all…

Special thank you @NareshDarji and @KashifMisidia for organizing Celebrating 11 Years of Local Guides & 10 Years of Connect!

Lets Celebrate this event… :confetti_ball:

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Many congratulations @NareshDarji and everyone who participated and made this celebration so special.
Thank you everyone :heart_eyes::heart_eyes:

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Thank you so much, dear @NareshDarji , for this wonderful initiative.

It was a great pleasure to participate and to help our communities learn more and benefit from the program.

Here’s to 11 years of the Local Guides program! :tada:

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What an amazing recap @NareshDarji! :clap:t3:

It’s inspiring to see Local Guides from across the world come together like this. Celebrating 11 years of Local Guides and 10 years of Connect is truly special. I haven’t hosted an in-person meet-up yet, but I’ve enjoyed being part of virtual sessions. Looking forward to joining or hosting one soon!

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That’s amazing @NareshDarji

Thank you for sharing.

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Thank you so much, @NareshDarji and @KashifMisidia, for putting together such a comprehensive and inspiring recap! :folded_hands::sparkles:

It’s truly amazing to see how this dual celebration of 11 Years of Local Guides and 10 Years of Connect brought together such incredible energy from across the globe :globe_showing_europe_africa:. The numbers are impressive, but what stands out even more is the spirit of collaboration, learning, and community bonding behind each meet-up.

I feel honored to be part of this global movement and grateful to be listed among the hosts. Hosting and participating in these meet-ups has always been a rewarding experience—each interaction adds a new perspective and strengthens our shared mission of making Google Maps more helpful for everyone.

A big congratulations to all the hosts, especially the super hosts, for their outstanding contributions :clap:, and to every Local Guide who participated and made this celebration memorable.

Looking forward to many more such meaningful collaborations and impactful contributions in the years ahead! :rocket:

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That’s an wonderful celebration post @NareshDarji and I am happy that I could be a part of those Meet-ups. Thanks for tagging me and would like to conduct and join more meetups.

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Thank you so much @NareshDarji and @KashifMisidia for this wonderful initiative. It’s a huge honor to see my name as a Super Host in this grand recap. :palms_up_together::sparkles:
I truly appreciate everyone who participated in celebrating 11 Years of Local Guides & 10 Years of Connect! Here’s to many more years of inspiring each other!

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Nice post @NareshDarji . Congratulations to all the local guides of the world in this 11 years of local guides celebration and 10 years of connect :clap:

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These are beautiful memories of 10th and 11th year and we have nine more months to go to conclude 11th year. :grinning_face::+1:t2:

Let’s have dome more knowledge sharing with fun king of meetups.
Thanks for such a wonderful challenge, @NareshDarji and @KashifMisidia bhai.

Cheers!

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I sincerely appreciate your amazing initiative, dear @NareshDarji
It was truly a joy to be involved and assist our communities in gaining knowledge and advantages from the program.
Cheers to 11 years of the Local Guides program! :tada:

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Danke @NareshDarji für diesen interessanten Überblick mit den wunderschönen Bildern der Veranstaltungen.
Allen die herzlichsten Glückwünsche!:sparkling_heart::folded_hands:

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This is truly inspiring

What an absolutely शानदार[1] and inspiring way to present this recap, @NareshDarji and @KashifMisidia Bhai!

First and foremost, both of you truly deserve immense appreciation for conceptualizing and executing this as a campaign that beautifully emphasizes pull over push, a principle that is not only powerful but also deeply effective in community building. This approach is clearly reflected throughout the recap, where participation feels organic, enthusiastic, and genuinely driven by shared passion.

Bringing together Local Guides from 11 different countries and successfully organizing 58 meet-ups is no small feat. It stands as a remarkable testament to the strength, unity, and spirit of this global community. When individuals come together on a common platform with a shared purpose, the outcome is nothing short of magical, and this initiative is a perfect example of that.

I truly enjoyed going through the recap, especially the vibrant collection of photos from across the globe. They beautifully capture the energy, diversity, and collective enthusiasm of the participants, making the entire experience even more impactful and memorable.

Kudos once again for such an outstanding effort, this is truly inspiring. :clap:

  1. spectacular ↩︎

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@NareshDarji bhai Milestones fade, but the impact of shared moments lives on. Grateful to be part of a community turning small actions into lasting meaning. :globe_showing_europe_africa::sparkles:

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Huge Congratulations, dear @NareshDarji Ji… and @KashifMisidia Ji…
Super excellent RECAP… Highly appreciate your efforts and dedication to show case the community spirit…
Thanks for tagging me in your post…
Happy and proud that we were a part of this prestigious mission.
All the very best…
:handshake::bouquet::folded_hands:

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@NareshDarji Lovely summation of the celebrations. I joined Connect very late , in its tenth year ( May2026) and clearly missed out on some very engaging meetups

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Thank you @NareshDarji & @KashifMisidia dada for this beautiful recap.
Your initiative was genuinely inspiring and so inviting ,I’m truly happy I could be a part of it.

Seeing everyone participate with such enthusiasm, as captured in your lovely picture collage, really shows how much people enjoyed being part of this double celebration :sparkling_heart:

Kudos to you and @KashifMisidia
Dada for not putting any pressure on the IGs.
The fact that everyone joined voluntarily speaks volumes, and it truly reflects your maturity and professionalism :folded_hands:.

It was wonderful and fun to be part of this initiative ,thanks a ton :heart:

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Wow, fabulous compilation of all the meet-ups in celebration. It’s inspiring and empowering to know how Local Guides from around the world came together to contribute. Thanks for sharing @NareshDarji bhai

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