Connect Live continued its world tour this past weekend by hosting 70 of Hyderabad’s top Local Guides for a day of celebration and connection at The Park Hotel. This was the last regional event before our final destination: Connect Live in San Jose, California! This year we visited communities in Lagos, Nigeria, Tokyo, Japan and finally, Hyderabad, India.
To start the day, Google Hyderabad’s Senior Program Manager Anal Ghosh welcomed Local Guides and discussed the ways that Google is committed to empowering communities in India. India is the country with the most Local Guides in the world and it’s one of the fastest growing countries for Google Maps. Anal also shared that more than half the internet population in India uses Google Maps every month!
Next up was a panel discussion with Googlers from all corners of the world! Program Manager Juan Chiste (@JuanCh) (London) moderated a panel discussion with Anal (Hyderabad), Product Manager Liam Bolling (Seattle, WA), UX Design Lead Kay Viswanadha (Mountain View, CA), and Program Manager Shweti Prabhu (Hyderabad). The group discussed everything from Maps edits to the launch of some exciting new product features in India centered around traveling safely and restaurant deals. They then took questions from the audience and Local Guides asked about some of the current and upcoming features.
Afterward, Local Guides divided into smaller groups to participate in feedback sessions with Googlers. They were able to share their experiences and provide feedback on Google Maps. We’re so grateful for all the enthusiasm and valuable input about how we can help improve the Local Guide experience not only in India, but the rest of the world!
After the feedback sessions, the group came back together for a special panel discussion with some of Hyderabad’s standout Local Guides to chat about their passion for hosting meet-ups. Googler Juan Chiste led a conversation with Level 10 Daniel Thumaty (@DanielTh), Level 9 Aslam Mohammed (@AslamMo), and Level 10 Fazeel Usmani (@FazeelUsmani). They love gathering Local Guides to share in their joy of showcasing all the wonderful food, culture, and history that their city has to offer—everything from the royal palaces, to local shopping markets, to where to eat biryani. They also talked about how they use Connect to share their experiences and help educate other Local Guides on how they can join meet-ups happening in their local areas. Their spirit was contagious and their love for their city truly inspiring!
Next, we heard about the impact of the Local Guides community from the unique perspective of a local business owner. Junaid Aziz from Hotel Nayaab, a well-known local biryani restaurant, shared how the reviews and photos from Local Guides have helped to shape how this family-owned and operated business approaches customer experience. Prior to being on Google Maps, the restaurant relied almost exclusively on word-of-mouth but Local Guides reviews have amplified their reach, bringing in a large surge of visitors and tourists. As a result, the restaurant has looked to dedicate space in the restaurant for foreigners that stays true to the Hyderabadi dining experience, but also brings in some elements these customers may be used to at home such as air conditioning and washroom amenities.
Lastly, we welcomed local photographers and food explorers Neidhi and Ashis (@fooddrifter) to the stage to give Local Guides some pointers on how to take amazing food photos with their mobile phones. The duo discussed the importance of focus, natural lighting, composition, plating and props, and their favorite one-click editing tool—Google Photos. Local Guides then had a chance to practice some of these techniques in a workshop following the presentation.
The event concluded with a happy hour and reception where Local Guides enjoyed delicious food and drinks, a Connect Live Hyderabad photo booth, and most importantly, the chance to interact with one another. Check out our Google Photos album to see all the highlights from the day!
Local Guides from around the world continue to impress us with their passion and excitement for their communities. Continue to follow along on Connect and our social channels to see what we have in store for highlighting our community of amazing Local Guides throughout the year!
This program is very generous and thoughtful. I love it very much and enjoying your program. 
