Today, we are sharing that we made the very difficult decision to cancel Connect Live this year due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
In addition to prioritizing the health and safety of our community, the uncertainty of international travel has made it almost impossible to create the Connect Live event that you, the Local Guides community, have come to expect and love.
For some of you, this will come as a disappointment. This wasn’t a decision we made lightly and we hope you understand.
Those Local Guides who took the time to apply for Connect Live 2020 will receive a Connect badge which we hope will bring a little bit of flair to your profile. Our plan is to continue to find ways to recognize you — our community – throughout the rest of the year.
Please stay tuned right here on Connect for information. As always, please continue to stay safe.
Below are the answers to some of the questions we think you may have:
Why did you cancel the event when it isn’t even happening until October?
Connect Live 2020 was canceled as we prioritized the health and safety of our community. Additionally, the uncertainty of international travel has made it almost impossible to create the Connect Live event that the Local Guides community have come to expect and love.- What do Connect Live 2020 applicants get?
All Connect Live 2020 applicants who are also members of Connect as of 9am ET on May 7th received a badge to recognize their application submission. In addition to this small token of our appreciation, we plan to continue to find ways to recognize you — our community – throughout the rest of the year.- Why didn’t I get the email telling me Connect Live was canceled?
All Connect Live 2020 applicants received an email on Thursday, May 7th around 9am ET.- I see there are is a number of people who got the Connect Live 2020 badge; does that mean that’s how many people applied for Connect Live 2020?
No, while submitting a Connect post was a requirement for Connect Live 2020, not all applicants were members of Connect as of Thursday, May 7th around 9am ET.- Will the event be back on track (rescheduled) if by later this year everything is back to normal?
No, we will not be holding Connect Live 2020 in any capacity as a lot of planning and travel arrangements goes into each event.- Will we get emails regarding the status of our applications?
All Connect Live 2020 applicants received an email on Thursday, May 7th around 9am ET.- Will you have a digital version of Connect Live 2020?
No. Connect Live is all about bringing the magic of the community, here on Connect and beyond, to real life, so we decided to not host a digital event.- Will there be a Connect Live 2021?
Yes, at this time, we plan to bring Connect Live back in 2021.
Ohh such a shame, but understandable… I guess I’ll just have to make my Cali visit dream come true another time. I hope we get to do the same / improved application for Google Live 2021! Bring it on!
Feeling sorry for those who applied… Last year it was a great event.Connect live 2019 was full of fun, learning, food and so on. These things can’t be felt digitally…so it is a good decision to cancel the event for 2020 as well as not to arrange it digitally
I’m sad, but I understand that this is beyond all of us. I’m glad you decided this. We will have a chance to see eachother again in the near future. In the meantime, we can all keep in contact thanks to this forum!
Edit: I’m adding the post I made on Local Stories so that it’s not duplicate.
This year is difficult. Most people lost their jobs and are in their houses without a secure future, expecting the impossible and hoping there was going to be an event this year.
We will have to go through this together. I’m sure that Google was waiting until the last moment to cancel CL2020 because a lot of things are needed to create the event (Visas, flight tickets, hotels, etc) and that takes months to prepare.
I’m sad, like probably everyone who applied, but I just wanted to write a post to lift your spirits and to ask you to not give up on the program. Continue with the contributions and writing amazing posts!
Fortunaley we can keep in contact thanks to this forum and that’s something even social media can’t fill. We are here because we all have the same goal: to make Google Maps a better place
I’m sure we’ll have the chance to meet someday! Don’t give up.
Tip: prepare yourself because I’m sure that next year’s event is going to be AMAZING
Thank you. I did expect this and I believe it to be a wise decision. I would have loved to have met the google connect community, but I want it to be under very different circumstances. I want to see their smiles and feel warm handshakes. That just can’t happen now. For now we protect our community.
That is in fact a huge disappointment given the fact that many countries are actually starting to reopen again and Connect Live 2020 only taking place by the end of this year
as soon as solve this problem