It’s conference season for the tech industry and no one makes a bigger splash in San Francisco than Dreamforce.
With 1,500+ sessions over three event-packed days, there’s something for every Salesforce fan, from bootcamps to community service opportunities to pickleball round robins.
So if you’re lucky enough to attend this coveted bucket-list conference in person, here are some important things to know before you go.
Transportation
Dreamforce is held at Moscone Center in the heart of the San Francisco financial district. You may qualify for free transportation from your hotel. Check if your hotel is on the Dreamforce shuttle route.
Traveling from the San Francisco Airport (SFO) to Moscone Center is 13.7 miles in a car, typically a $100 Uber ride. Using BART, the trip takes around 35 minutes and costs $8 to $11. BART has a station at Market & 5th known as Powell Street Station, a 10-minute walk from Moscone.
Parking in San Francisco can be a challenge and expensive, so we highly recommend you don’t rent a car. If you’re driving your own car, the Moscone Center Garage is located at 255 3rd Street. Save yourself the headache of finding parking by reserving a space in advance through SpotHero.
Restaurants, Coffee Houses & Breweries
Daily morning and afternoon refreshments as well as lunch are included in a full Dreamforce conference pass. But don’t waste an opportunity to enjoy some of the best cuisine in San Francisco.
Grab breakfast or lunch at Mama’s On Washington Square and make someone at your table order the famous Monte Cristo. It’s divine. Got a sweet tooth? Stella Pastry and Cafe, located at 446 Columbus Ave, has something for everyone, but be sure to try one of their life-changing cannolis.
Thirsty for a good pint? Visit Black Hammer Brewing Company, just a short 10-minute walk from Moscone. Too early for beer? Whether you’re on team coffee or team chai, stop by Delah Coffee for a five-star caffeinated experience.
Dreamforce-Related Happy Hours & Meetups
After a long day of working the Dreamforce expo floor, attending sessions, and talking tech, you’ll find Happy Hours and parties on every corner. Here are a few you don’t want to miss:
- Modern Sales Pros Dreamforce Happy Hour: Sip and connect with sales leaders, revenue operations professionals, and sales enablement experts on Tuesday, September 12th, from 6 pm to 9 pm at Madarae located at 46 Minna Street.
- Dreamforce Happy Hour with LeadIQ and Gong: Grab a drink and network with fellow sales pros on Tuesday, September 12th, from 4 pm to 7 pm at Swig located at 561 Geary Street.
- Pipeline Summit Live: Head over to the SFMOMA on Wednesday, September 13th, where Qualified is hosting an evening of networking and thought leadership. It’s a fantastic gathering for B2B marketers.
- RevOps Meetup – Donuts with Don: Join Don Otvos, RevOps and Partnerships extraordinaire, on Wednesday, September 13th, at the San Francisco Mint from 12 pm to 1 pm to network with like-minded professionals who live, breathe, and dream operations. Donuts and free headshots will be provided.
- Careers, Cocktails and Cookies: This meetup is for anyone exploring a career in RevOps, recently laid off from an operations role, or simply anyone who wants to further their Operations career. Join your tribe from 4 pm to 5 pm on September 13th at The San Francisco Mint.
For a comprehensive list of Dreamforce-related parties and events, see Salesforceben’s Ultimate Dreamforce Parties page.
Shoes Matter
It’s become a bit of a conference cliche, right? Of course you need to wear comfortable shoes. But there’s always someone who buys brand new Cole Haans to match their Peter Millar Flynn Classic Fit Wool blazer. You’ll notice them limping down Mission Street trying to keep a straight face while a grape-sized blister is forming on the back of their heel.
Break-in those kicks before you come to Dreamforce! Comfort is king.
Map Out Your Dreamforce Session Agenda
Take some time before Dreamforce to map out the sessions you want to attend. Use the Salesforce Events app. It will help personalize your schedule with keynotes and sessions that match your interests. The Salesforce Events app will also help you navigate your way around Dreamforce with maps and information about transportation. Don’t forget to plan some downtime in your schedule to eat and recharge.
If you work in any kind of operations role: revops, salesops, or marketing ops, block some time for an OpsStars session over at the San Francisco Mint. You won’t find comparable ops-related content at Dreamforce. To claim your free ticket, visit www.ops-stars.com.
Packing Strategy
San Francisco weather can be quite variable. Even in September, it can be chilly and foggy, so pack a mix of clothing for layering. Include a light jacket or sweater that you can easily put on or take off.
A small backpack or day bag will be useful for carrying your reusable water bottle, power bank, and devices. It’s also handy for storing any items you collect along the way.
The best-packed suitcase is one that leaves room for swag. You’ll get plenty of it at Dreamforce, so leave some space in that roller bag.
Swag Guide
Dreamforce swag is legendary — namely the Salesforce backpack and Trailblazer hoodies. You’ve likely seen plushies proudly displayed in office cubicles and on the beds of children whose parents attended Dreamforce.
Count on going home with stuff: T-shirts, stickers, hoodies, webcam covers, portable chargers, water bottles, the adorable Spekit stuffed octopus, and whatever else you’re willing to sit through a demo to earn.
Over at OpsStars, the first 200 registrants will be given a collectible tee listing all the dates and venues of past OpsStars conferences in true rockstar style.
Refresh & Recharge at the San Francisco Mint
When you need some downtime from Dreamforce, head over to the San Francisco Mint on Wednesday, September 13th, for OpsStars, a free, one-day event tailored to operational professionals. Now in its eighth year, OpsStars features 20 sessions, 25+ speakers, and 2,500 attendees. Listen to presentations from operations experts from Snowflake and NVIDIA, or attend tactical workshops led by LeanData or Salesloft.
Just need to chill? Grab a drink and recharge in the LeanData lounge or Salesloft speakeasy.
Play Tourist
If you’ve got some extra time to explore the city, here are a few tourist attractions to put on your list:
- Golden Gate Bridge: Look for 746-foot tall towers, sweeping main cables, and its signature International Orange color. You can drive over the bridge, but crossing via the pedestrian walkway is much more exciting.
- Alcatraz Island: Take a self-led tour through one of America’s most infamous prisons. Book this excursion in advance and insider tip: It’s less crowded early in the morning.
- Lombard Street: This steep, one-way street in San Francisco is said to be the most crooked street in the world. Drive it or walk the stairs. It’s free.
- Coit Tower: Best known for its murals and 360-degree views, Coit Tower is a slender white concrete column rising from the top of Telegraph Hill. Walking is the best way to get there.
- Ride a Cable Car: You may get tired walking the steep hills of San Francisco, so take a ride on a cable car. Tickets can be purchased onboard. Cable cars can take you to several tourist attractions.
- Palace of Fine Arts: This architectural wonder is the last remaining structure from the 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition. It’s one of the most photographed sites in the city.
Find Solutions
If you’re on the hunt for a new solution for your tech stack, schedule a meeting in advance. This ensures you can demo a product at a time that’s best for your conference plans. Most vendors offer Dreamforce meeting scheduling forms on their websites weeks in advance.
OpsStars sponsors Xactly, CaptivateIQ, Highspot, Rattle and others will be providing demonstrations of their technology platforms throughout the day on Wednesday, September 13th, at the San Francisco Mint.
Virtual Options for Dreamforce & OpsStars
If 2023 is not your year to attend Dreamforce or OpsStars in person, there are several virtual options available. Salesforce+ offers free live streaming during Dreamforce as well as 120+ on-demand episodes. You can even watch the Dreamfest headliner, the Foo Fighters, perform.
If Dreamforce 2024 is on your mind, Salesforce is offering a chance to win one of 10 free passes by watching Dreamforce 2023 on Salesforce+, taking their post-keynote survey, and Dreamforce event survey.
OpsStars recorded sessions will be available in the LeanData Resource Center shortly after the conference. Or, catch a virtual rerun of OpsStars sessions on October 11th. Details coming soon!
Kim Peterson
Kim Peterson is the Manager of Content Strategy at LeanData where she digs deep into all aspects of the revenue process and shares her findings across multiple content channels. Kim's writing experiences span tech companies, stunt blogging, education, and the real estate industry. Connect with Kim on LinkedIn.
