We’re excited to introduce our new Meet-up Champion, @LaloPadilla ! Lalo is a Community Builder and a Helpful Hero, and his example shines through the meet-ups he hosts. They’re a mix of celebration, culture, photography, and much more.
Lalo lives in Metepec, Mexico, but is always ready to travel to another place for a Local Guides meet-up. As a self-described introverted person, he finds these events to be a great way to discover new spots and get to know people he’s met on Connect. “It is always interesting when you meet someone in real life for the first time,” Lalo shares.
So, if you have ever wondered if you should try hosting or attending a meet-up, read on for some inspiration from Lalo’s experience.
What was your first experience with meet-ups?
It was the Global Virtual Meet-up in 2020 during the pandemic, co-hosted by @marcorp and @Jesi . It was really fun and a different experience from just chatting in the comment section on Connect. I remember it was someone’s birthday, and we sang happy birthday. I believe we did a very good job considering the audio delay everyone was having, haha.
You host a wide variety of meet-ups that focus on culture, photography, and exploring new things in your area. Do you have a favorite meet-up theme or an activity that you always include?
I would say photography, but lately, my meet-ups have been a mix of all of those themes unintentionally. When we visit a place, we check the accessibility features (or the lack of them), and sometimes the meet-up includes going to eat, so while we are waiting for our order, we open Maps to add photos or edit information.
One of my favorite moments during meet-ups is when someone asks about Maps or the program, and everyone answers with a different point of view. With every meet-up, I see that Local Guides have acquired more experience and knowledge on some topics. Maybe a Q&A could be a great topic for a future meet-up.
How do you plan and prepare for your meet-ups? How do you promote your meet-ups?
When I decide to visit a certain place or celebrate a special date for a meet-up, I like to do my own research. My go-to sources are Maps reviews, online videos, and even Street View.
I write the necessary information about the meet-up in a post on Connect. I add a Google Form so I can easily send an invite to everyone who fills it and sometimes create a Telegram group chat for updates. It has been helpful to tell people our location if they join after the meet-up has begun.
When the planning is done, I promote my meet-ups on social media from my personal account and the “@localguidesmexico” account or in group chats of Local Guides in Mexico or LATAM. In my experience, two weeks before the meet-up is the best time to submit a meet-up on Connect, so people can add it to their weekend plans.
What are the three most important things you’ve learned from organizing meet-ups that you think any host should know?
- Keep it simple: I have learned that it is better to not overcomplicate it. This is a valuable tip for Local Guides who are willing to host their first meet-up. Sometimes a simple walk visiting one or two places is the best plan. You can even ask your attendees for suggestions; as Local Guides, we are great at suggesting places that are worth it!
- Be flexible: Things are not going to be as you planned, so either you have to improvise or have a plan B.
- The show must go on: Don’t worry if no one shows up to your meet-up; it is something normal. Just enjoy your own company and start your meet-up as you planned! You will have to multitask, though, acting as a host and an attendee at the same time, hahaha.
Which are your favorite meet-ups that you have hosted and attended so far?
Pueblos Mágicos de México was a really special TeamTacos meet-up because we prepared a presentation using Google Earth and so many people joined the video call. We showed some Magical Towns; these are towns that have preserved their culture and history and are good tourist places.
Photo walk “Día de Reyes” is certainly one of the best meet-ups that I have attended. It was hosted by @Bere_Marichi in 2023, and while we walked down one long pedestrian street, @LightRich shared a lot of important facts about the buildings. At the end, Bere gave us small “Rosca de Reyes” cakes and I won a gift!
My favorite virtual meet-up was Community Live 2020, an amazing two-day event organized by Connect Moderators and especially @AdrianLunsong . There were a lot of great moments, and I learned a lot. We even had a breakout session in Spanish with a lot of Local Guides from LATAM and Spain. I’m going to count the whole event as one meet-up, I hope it’s not cheating!
Have you attended any of Lalo’s meet-ups? Do you have a question for him? Tell us in the comments below.
Want to see who else is a Meet-up Champion? Read our previous post here.
on getting featured.
to the list of meet-up champions 
This makes me want to improve my meet-ups and help more Local Guides to host their first meet-up
Mumbai were we can have a meet up with our Champion.