Five years ago seems such a short time but also such a long time. Back on this week in 2016 75 (maybe 76 but who is counting) Local Guides met up with a bunch of Googlers in San Francisco for the inaugural Local Guides Summit.
We started out at the San Francisco Hyatt Hotel where we gradually started to come together and wondered who and where the Googlers where until we started to register and get our ID and backpacks. Then we had an amazing opening party where we all got to know each other. It did not matter who you were, what you were, what you identified as or your practices. We were all equal and we were all fully accepted. We were friends.
Over the next days we visited the San Francisco Google office and the Googleplex and learned an amazing amount about each other, Local Guides, Google Maps and where things were headed. I’m pleased to say that nearly every idea that was covered under the NDA at that time today is public knowledge and available in Maps. The same has happened each year with ideas from Local Guides encouraged by Google specialists have become refined and appeared in Maps, Local Guides program and here on Connect.
I was quite amazed when I was asked to speak on a panel and take part in the future of Local Guides.
Here are a few images that I snapped (and I do mean snapped - I was too excited to make proper photos - it might have been a 3600 event not a 36 event lol) that I think convey some of the excitement and fun of the attendees. How far we’ve all come since then!
The event was very fresh and while not everything went exactly to plan we all came together Googlers and Local Guides alike to make one of the best events I’ve ever attended. We all had an amazing time. We all felt heard and understood and we met in person for the first time many of the amazing Googlers like @TraciC .
Did you know that out of the 75 that 64 of us still chat to this day on Google Chat (formerly Google Hangouts) - I’m told we’ve got one of the oldest big continuously running Hangouts ever and I’m very glad Google nudged us over to Chat intact. Right now we’re talking about an anniversary meetup which I’m really looking forward to.
Local Guides would never be the same again after our little event. The Summit morphed into the Local Guides Connect event that we hope will return as soon as health and safety permits.
I to this day have very close friendships with both Googlers and Local Guides cemented at this event. By the end of the event there was kinship, there was love we were family. We were the first family of many event families to come.
Indeed that was such a great event which still remains memorable. I’m glad you guys are still keeping in touch and at the same time growing as local guides and carrying others along. The transfer of all the gained experience/knowledge to new local guides is evident and i still do respect you for that, thank you!
Awesome post Paul! I remember that Summit like it was yesterday, so much fun, so much information, and so many people to say hello to in person!
I didn’t take all of these photos - my apologies for not mentioning who did with the exception of @JoeSterne - I’ve forgotten! I’ve tried to tag everyone, but Connect is being a bit finicky, so if I left you out, I’m sorry!
Exploring San Francisco was sooo much fun! Especially when hanging out with this incredible crew of Local Guides! @PrachyM@CharlesThoquenne@SunPanupong@ChamnanMuon Sorry Adrian, I can’t seem to find your Connect profile!
Oh I think the Google Security would find someone hiding @KalyanPal anyone who strayed outside the defined area quickly had a friend or two kindly but firmly guiding them back to the right area - that is one of the reasons I trust Google with my data - I know they look after our privacy.
Hehe @Velvel I would like to say I’ve not aged a bit, but I have
2016 hmm I think in that time ,I just started my first contribution as local guides without realize that I’m being local guides , started with review " ok , good , nice place " .
Just feel like yesterday and I’m grateful to connect with fellow local guides here on connect today .
I love bringing back the memories from this event, it was such a fun time to be hands on with the local guides community and learning how passionate the community is about making Google Maps the best experience for discovering new gems or navigating a challenging city. Hope everyone has been staying happy & healthy - be sure to reach out if you’re visiting NYC in the near future!
@Nyainurjanah I think my first review was something simple and light on like that too! How much we change when we start to figure out the value of what we’re doing.
@AustinTierney it was indeed - I’ve been to NYC in 2018 and 2019 and would love to come back. I really enjoy NYC - while I’ve got a fondness for SF and the Bay Area after living there for so long NY I have to say is full of people much more like Aussies, direct, nearly impossible to offend and with a great sense of humour. Such a busy and vibrant city but you can feel right at home. Last time I stayed in a basement apartment in Brooklyn which was perfect to get to just about everywhere and matched my budget!
Thanks for the grand walk-down-memory-lane post @PaulPavlinovich ! Summit 2016 is still such a fond memory of mine and it was such an honour to be in the first batch of Local Guides to experience the magic of the annual event! I’ll join in and share some snaps too!
My first brush with fellow attendees was at a photo walk hosted by @KimberlyAnnG . I was late and only joined in from the Smitten Ice Cream stop! This photo was taken at the 4505 Burgers & BBQ restaurant. We had earlier gone past the Painted Ladies for more photos too!
For the breakout sessions that I had, my group visited The Aesthetic Union where we got to see what a printing shop does (it’s pretty awesome!), Ritual Coffee Roasters where we got to do a coffee tasting session and finally, The Cheese School (it was previously in the Mission District) where we got to learn about the various types of cheeses and try them. They were all really great places, very educational and such great fun!
#AdrianLunsong I absolutely agree that LG Summit16 was one of those life changing experiences and I love to see what everyone is doing now. Awesome memories and awesome people. It would be lovely to be able to have a LG Summit16 reunion!
You look so young @AdrianLunsong !! I was even later to Kimmie’s walk than you, I missed it entirely :(. I did get to ride over the Golden Gate with another Kimmy though and have a great lunch on the other side of the bay in Sausilito.
and think that I can easily sit in a corner (no one will fine me 
).
)
