Meet 10 passionate Local Guides and the businesses they supported this year

Editor’s Note: This post is part of our series celebrating our Guiding Stars, the Local Guides who went above and beyond to make a difference in 2021, on Google Maps and off. Read more here.

Some of the changes that 2020 brought about remained with us in 2021. Many small businesses had to adjust their operations to accommodate evolving protocols and ensure the safety of their clients. These ten Local Guides, featured in our Local Business Champion category, were quick to react to these changes by keeping information on Google Maps updated and adding contributions that helped both businesses and visitors.

To celebrate their passion, we wanted to highlight the businesses they loved supporting this year — and always — and some of the ways they did so.

Showcasing the best locally

Putri ( @putrisetyo ) specializes in coffee libraries: places to enjoy a cup in the company of a good book. She found the perfect spot in her area in Indonesia, Libreria Eatery, and made sure to include all the details a fellow book lover would be interested in in her review.

Meanwhile, Kristin ( @TheRealKristin ) explores the United Kingdom, compiling lists like this one of The Best of Manchester. Her favorite local place is FarGo Village, an area in Coventry that was built for small businesses, offering everything from homemade jam to used books.

Celeste ( @NexusKC ) calls herself a “die-hard Kansas City fan,” so it’s no surprise that one of the stores she frequented in 2021 was Made in KC. Their platform offers local entrepreneurs a place to sell their goods, something that Celeste says “is in line with what I try to do as a Local Guide.”

Promoting Mexican culture on Connect and Google Maps is a mission that Bere ( @Bere_Marichi ) takes to heart. In addition to introducing local traditions as part of #TeamTacos, she’s also been reviewing tortillerias in Mexico City. She’s so impressed with the changes they’ve made to adapt that she can’t pick just one favorite!

Focusing on the details that matter

For David C. ( @davidrobertclarke ), 2021 was another year of uncovering new independent businesses. His love for the craft coffee at Dark Horse Espresso Bar and the artisan cheeses at the Cheese Cavern is evident in his incredibly thoughtful reviews that bring awareness to the small and local.

A strong advocate for Black history preservation, April ( @MissAprilNola ) contributes to landmarks and museums that tell the story of African Americans. They also help black-owned and women-owned businesses like Meals From the Heart Cafe gain more visibility by sharing reviews and photos on Google Maps.

As a telecommunications professional, Sebas ( @SebaasC ) understands the importance of sharing timely and relevant information. He’s been updating business details wherever he goes, and his contributions focus on safety protocols, like in his review of Gimme Shelter House.

Bringing diverse tastes to the map

Having moved from India to the Philippines, Alwy ( @Dr_AlwyPaul ) discovered that her new city is home to a vibrant food scene. She embarked on a journey to sample different tastes, including Turkish shawarma and falafel at Shawarma Rolls, all the while sharing her experiences on Google Maps to connect businesses with potential customers.

From creating lists of places that serve biryani to starting a Connect series about Indian food trucks, Jay ( @jayasimha78 ) puts Indian cuisine on the map of the San Francisco Bay Area. The idea for a series came to him because he found it impossible to showcase only one of the trucks — so he’s on a quest to explore them all.

As a Venezuelan in Canada, it’s important for Luis Miguel ( @LuisMGonzalez ) to find those stores and restaurants where he can enjoy the authentic Latino taste. Whether it’s a traditional Venezuelan breakfast at Cachitos or a delicious arepa at Bocadillo Bistro, he makes sure to help keep the “multicultural experience alive” through his contributions.

Join us in congratulating our Local Business Champions in the comments below!

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Thank you for this post @TiffanyBnyc , I am honored of sharing this category with such an amazing group of Local Guides.

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@TiffanyBnyc Thank You! Honored to be part of this great group of localguides.

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Thank you so much for this recognition @TiffanyBnyc I’m so proud of this local guides community and their support to the society. Congrats to all other Small business champions.

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You all are awesome persons!

Congratulations to all Guiding Stars Local Business Champions.

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Thanks @TiffanyBnyc

Congratulations to all our Local Business Champions

Well done!!! @Bere_Marichi @LuisMGonzalez

@SebaasC

@jayasimha78

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@LaloPadilla Thank You!

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Congratulations to all shining star local guides, especially @Dr_AlwyPaul - your excellent posts about food and recommendations from both India and the Phillipnieswere both enjoyable and studded with helpful information.

It’s not easy to run business in the time like this. Eventhough not every of them are active in Connect, but their contribution in Google Maps really could help those local businesses to survive. Juara kelas!

Thank you @TiffanyBnyc for another super category of super heroes!

Congratulations everyone, local business champions, super stars and passionate Local Guides friends :champagne: :tada: .

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@TiffanyBnyc great post and most importantly, great contributions from standout local guides!!! Great work guys!!! :grinning:

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Both 2020 and 2021 were challenging years for most, especially businesses so every little bit that each Local Guide did in their own local area, accumulated in total meant that the global Local Guide Community overall did a lot to help struggling businesses and its contributions by Champions like you that led the charge of this massive global effort. Congratulations to each and every one of you.

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Congrats everyone! Our contributions help local businesses and help people to find them. And ultimately help the local economy. Thank you for all the great job and let’s continually encourage everyone else to contribute.

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Tiffany first of all thank you for this post. Thanks to the Google Team too, for this recognition!

First I didn’t realize but then I keep really impressed when I saw each category with an unique icon shape. Then all the parts with each GS photo forming the whole shape, this detail was amazing, I like the pin of the Local Business Champions.

Finally I’m grateful too to share the category with awesome Local Guides : @putrisetyo , @TheRealKristin , @NexusKC , @Bere_Marichi , @davidrobertclarke , @MissAprilNola , @Dr_AlwyPaul , @jayasimha78 , @LuisMGonzalez .

Congrats again, to all of them.

@TiffanyBnyc

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Thank you very much Lalo!

Thanks always for the possitive vibes !

@LaloPadilla

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Thank you @TiffanyBnyc for the post! :star_struck:

And congratulations to all of my fellow Guiding Stars in our category!

@putrisetyo @Celeste_KansasCity @Bere_Marichi @davidrobertclarke @MissAprilNola @user_not_found @Dr_AlwyPaul @jayasimha78 & @LuisMGonzalez !

@davidrobertclarke - That cheese place looks amazing!!! We should plan a cheese-crawl meetup soon! Are you also located in the West Midlands!? :joy:

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Hi @TiffanyBnyc and everyone else here,

thank you so much for sharing this amazing post, Tiffany! :star_struck: :star2:

You all are so amazing! :partying_face: :star2:

Everyone of you is a very well deserved Guiding Star! :clap:t2: :partying_face: :star2: :tada:

Congratulations to you all! :partying_face: :bouquet: :tada:

I wish you a great day! :hugs:

Many warm greetings from Hamburg, Germany! :hugs: :de:

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Congratulations to all who were selected as Guiding Stars in the Local Business Champion category.

Especially to my Indonesian friends, @putrisetyo . Feel free to come to our basecamp, Saturday night tomorrow many Local Guides will gather

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@TiffanyBnyc

Congratulations to all our Local Business Champions, You all make a big change.

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@TheRealKristin I’m located on the east side of Birmingham, in the historic industrial town of Castle Bromwich. Think Spitfire Planes, Jaguar Cars and Dunlop Tyres.

Lichfield, my old home, is one of the finest small cities in the UK. The Cheese Cavern, located in the centre, is a tardis of artisan cheeses, fine hams and sumptuous savouries. I would argue it is the finest deli in the Midlands.

I would definitely enjoy the beginning of a cheese-crawl, but I would be flagging by the 3rd or 4th deli. I have a fine beer belly and dessert stomach, but not a dedicated organ to cope with the cheeky cheeses.

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