Some moments in life feel straight out of a dream — and for me, Connect LIVE 2025 was exactly that.
When the official invite landed in my inbox, my heart was filled with happiness and excitement. I felt incredibly lucky to be part of this unforgettable journey, surrounded by passionate Local Guides from across regions.
A huge shoutout and thanks to @Kristen_NYC, @Latika_Malhotra and the entire Google team for their flawless arrangements.
Day 1: The Journey Begins – Stepping Into a Dream
The excitement began early on the morning of September 18 as I boarded a flight from Pune to Bengaluru, accompanied by my fellow Pune Local Guides @AjitThite dada, @Shubhu1, @Praniketmore @ShubhamWaman @Rushikesh_joshi @abhishekpatk @Ketan_Kangankar and @Supriyadevkar tai.
Before the flight, we had a meaningful accessibility meetup at Pune Airport, which added a thoughtful start to our journey.
The journey was smooth, filled with cheerful conversations and anticipation for the days ahead.
Upon arrival, we checked into the luxurious Zuri Whitefield Hotel, thoughtfully arranged by Google for all attendees. The warm hospitality and elegant ambiance instantly set the tone for what was going to be a memorable event.
By 4:30 PM we boarded the shuttle to head to Google’s Ananta Office—a place many of us had always dreamed of visiting. For me, stepping inside Google’s office for the very first time was most exciting. 
As soon as we arrived, we were greeted with a warm welcome by Googlers. We received our ID cards and, like true explorers, clicked a big group photo at the entrance, capturing the joy of over 50+ enthusiastic Local Guides from across India, along with attendees from various Asian and African countries.
The event officially began as we proceeded to the event floor, where Kristen warmly welcomed everyone. The celebrations kicked off with a delightful cake-cutting ceremony, marking the beginning of two incredible days.
Next came a heartwarming Meet and Greet session, followed by a beautiful activity called “Leave One, Take One”—a thoughtful gift exchange that truly reflected the spirit of the community. Everyone brought small tokens of love-stickers, bookmarks, Tulsi malas, jute bags, keychains, badges, and sweets and exchanged them with excitement and joy.
we were treated to a lavish buffet dinner.
We ate, we talked, we laughed, and most importantly, we connected. It was amazing to share stories and experiences with fellow Local Guides from different corners of the world.
The night didn’t end there. Back at the hotel, many of us gathered in the reception area, where we played a fun Secret Santa game and shared heartfelt conversations late into the evening. It was the perfect end to a magical first day—filled with laughter, warmth, and new friendships.
Day 2: Celebrating Community, Connection, and Memories
The second day of Connect LIVE 2025 began bright and early as we boarded the shuttle to Google’s Carina office for a meetup hosted by @Globe_trotter_Ish for women local guides.
It felt wonderful to connect with fellow women Local Guides from different places, each bringing unique experiences and perspectives. Together, we shared our stories, shared gifts and discussed the few topic like “How Google Maps helps in women’s safety.” From real-time location sharing to reviews, navigation, and community contributions — it was inspiring to hear how these features have made a real difference in the lives of women.
It was great meeting all ladies @MerlinThomas, @Velvel, @SwetaDhondoo, @Gurukrishnapriya ma’am, @Shrut19 tai, @Vandana_shines @ShifaAymal , @nish_25 @SayliWalve @Shubhu1 @RosyKohli @HinalLad @MayuriKubal @Tejal ma’am, @SonamW ma’am, @ShreyaMusings @Globe_trotter_Ish @arati shinde
along side we enjoyed breakfast and our conversations. The morning truly set the tone for a day filled with learning, celebration, and bonding.
Soon, all attendees gathered for the main event, which featured a series of engaging sessions by Googlers to celebrate 20 years of Google Maps and 10 years of Connect.
We enjoyed a delightful lunch together, followed by endless rounds of group photos, capturing memories we knew we’d cherish for years.
Another highlights of the day was the panel discussion, where fellow Local Guides, @Globe_trotter_Ish @PrasadVR sir, and @SonamW ma’am shared their personal journeys and experiences. Their stories were heartfelt and inspiring, reminding us of how each contribution, no matter how small, helps shape a global community.
The afternoon continued with some exciting demos, showcasing the innovative features and future directions of Google Maps.
As the day drew to a close, it was time for a farewell dinner, marking the end of an unforgettable event. The thoughtful return gifts from the Google team were more than souvenirs; they were shared with love, care and attention that went into making every moment special.
Special thanks to @Praniketmore for introducing me to Local Guide Connect @TusharSuradkar Sir and @AjitThite sir and all my fellow Maharashtra Local Guides for their continuous support and guidance.
These two days will forever hold a special place in my heart. Meeting everyone in person including googlers, was such a joy - laughter, stories, and memories all in one place.
Connect Live was a remarkable milestone — a beautiful union of the community, bringing together people whose posts we had admired on Connect. This event gave us the beautiful opportunity to meet in real life, share genuine moments, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Thank you Google 
always grateful for the opportunity.
@NandKK @MathanVibranarayan @ShailendraOjha @Shaunak @Rahul001, @TravellerG sir, @NareshDarji sir, @K.K.Sharma sir, @Gvipin @Raj_Tayade @PritishB @MohanG @Viranchi @Sagarkanherkar @VikramSingh_Valera @SYED_BKSC @Premalpatel @AnshukMitra @Nidhish_Jaju @KetanChhaniyara , santosh kumar sir, shirish, Prince, Gaurav
Youtube vlog: https://youtu.be/DwoS4-_d4Ao?si=3npnW8HxwaKAqqxM
nice meeting and connecting with you, hope to meet again some day 
, and it created the best bonding between us 
, as you have contributed your best both for the community and for building strong bonds.