What is Dreamforce?

Dreamforce is one of the biggest tech conferences in the world. It is Salesforce’s massive event with over 170,000 attendees completely occupying San Francisco over a few days in the 2nd half of every year. Over 2,700 sessions and workshops with keynotes delivered by elite speakers from renowned companies take part in this event. Thousands of Salesforce trailblazers from all over the world come over for this extravaganza. Dreamforce has grown into so much more than a conference — it’s an experience like no other. Admins, Developers, Consultants, Project Managers, Business Analysts, Technical Architects, Customers, Companies, App Builders, Visionaries, Partners, and Salesforce MVPs – they all make this event a lifetime experience for everyone attending.

Furthermore, based on a Salesforce survey of 2,537 in-person Dreamforce 2022 attendees:

• 93% of the attendees claimed that they solved business challenges with something they learned at Dreamforce
• 93% learned something that helped their businesses save time and money
• 90% discovered new tools and products to help them better engage and/or connect with customers.

Preparing for Dreamforce is quite challenging, especially for first-timers. At Inspire Planner, we have put together this Ultimate Guide to Dreamforce full of valuable information about the event. We hope it will be your one-stop guide for Dreamforce 2024.

Below is some key information about Dreamforce 2024 that you need to know.

Dreamforce 2024

Dreamforce 2024 Date & Location

Don’t forget to mark your calendar – the biggest Salesforce conference will take place on September 17-19, 2024 in San Francisco.

And since Salesforce is also likely to offer digital experiences during Dreamforce, trailblazers will be able to join the event from the comfort of their homes through the Salesforce+ video streaming platform.

Pricing & Registration for Dreamforce 2024

When the registration for Dreamforce 2024 is open, you will be able to secure your spot here: https://www.salesforce.com/dreamforce/

In 2023, the ‘early bird’ ticket was available at USD $1,499, while the standard rate for Dreamforce 2023 was USD $1,899 and the last chance offers were sold for USD $2,299. We expect the prices for Dreamforce 2024 to stay approximately the same.

The Full Conference pass for Dreamforce 2024 will be valid September 17–19, 2024, and will include access to keynotes, breakout and theater sessions, hands-on workshops, roundtable discussions, networking with your community, the Welcome Reception, a certification opportunity, and Dreamfest. Daily morning and afternoon refreshments and lunch are also included in your full conference pass.

You can also sign up on the website to receive updates when more exciting announcements are available. To join the conversation on social media, follow the official Dreamforce hashtag #DF24.

In 2022, Dreamforce had roughly 30,000 in-person attendees, making it the largest Dreamforce since 2019, together with ~120k people attending online.

Meanwhile, you can experience the magic of Dreamforce 2023 via Salesforce+ platform. The great news is that membership is free, easy, and available to everyone.

Agenda & Speakers

While the main topic of Dreamforce 2023 was around the combination of AI + Data + CRM, there is still no confirmation on the main theme for Dreamforce 2024.

In 2023, Salesforce delivered a lot of content about AI-powered innovation, faster data-driven decisions, smarter CRM, and more. Overall, there was 1,500+ sessions.

We are confident that Salesforce won’t disappoint us with the Dreamforce 2024 speaker lineup.

For example, in 2019, Dreamforce featured such speakers as Marc Benioff, Tim Cook, Barack Obama, Emilia Clarke, Arianna Huffington, and more.

In 2020, keynote speakers included Jeff McElfresh (CEO, AT&T Communications), Adrian Hallmark (Chairman & CEO, Bentley Motors), Bret Taylor (President & COO, Salesforce), and more.

In 2021, Salesforce featured inspiring speakers such as Marc Benioff (Chair & CEO, Salesforce), Will Smith (Actor & Musician), Ola Källenius (CEO, Daimler & Mercedes-Benz), and more.

In 2022, the event was kicked off by Salesforce Co-CEOs Marc Benioff and Bret Taylor. It also featured speakers like Matthew McConaughey (Alright, Alright, Alright.. ), Bono, Jennifer Hudson, and others. Overall, there were over 1,400 breakouts and sessions where attendees could listen to the leadership of global companies that have used Customer 360 to transform their businesses, as well as to hundreds of other inspirational speakers and Trailblazers who are using Salesforce to improve our community.

In 2023, there were several major announcements including the launch of Einstein 1 Platform, Copilot Studio, Free licenses for Data Cloud and Tableau, Slack innovations, and more.

Once it’s confirmed, the latest agenda can be found on the main Dreamforce 2024 website.

Of course, we are all expecting another great performance at the Dreamfest, which will also support the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals. The Dreamforce 2023 headlining band was Foo Fighters, and we hope Salesforce will surprise us with another great concert during the Dreamforce 2024.

Venue

Dreamforce is typically held in downtown San Francisco, drawing focus on the Moscone Center. Dreamforce 2024 will probably not be an exception, despite some rumors that Marc Benioff might move the conference to another major US city due to security concerns in San Francisco.

Usually, there are various zones within the campus – Admin Zone, Dev Zone, Partner Expo, and the DreamPark. Each has its own purpose and value. At the Admin zone, there are mini-sessions, Trailhead challenges, and demos aimed at newbies and Salesforce admins. Dev Zone is on similar lines but it’s for all the codeys’ out there.

Dreamforce Expo usually has over 400 Salesforce partners showcasing their Apps such as Inspire Planner, a Salesforce-native project management app. Get ready to collect most swags here.

Hotels & Accommodation for Dreamforce 2024

A number of hotels in that area have contracts with Salesforce for discounted rates. Typically, when you register for Dreamforce, you will see various hotels you can book at a special rate. And we encourage you to book hotels early as they are getting sold out really quickly.

You can also look at other hotel comparison sites like Booking.com, Expedia.com, Hotels.com, Kayak to find other hotels that might be less expensive than the Dreamforce list of hotels.

Airbnb and Hostels are also decent options within the city. If you are looking at cheaper options, you can always go out of the city with the BART train system that is connected to Moscone within half an hour.

Why Attend Dreamforce 2024 – What’s in it for YOU?

• Learn: From learning about the newest products, getting inspired, discovering the future of technology, and getting hands-on with it – there’s a lot more Dreamforce can offer to you. Learning is endless with thousands of demos and solutions from Salesforce, partners, and insights from experts.
• Connect: Connect with the trailblazers with unlimited networking opportunities day in and day out – it is the perfect place to meet new people, build careers, and get inspired. Even just a lunch with someone there could lead to a complete transformation in your career.
• Charity: Philanthropy is a huge part of Dreamforce every single year. Dreamforce brings opportunities to make the world more equal. Salesforce has raised over $83 million to support the communities so far. By attending Dreamforce you are doing your part too. For example, during the Dreamforce To You 2020, Salesforce donated $5 million to address today’s economic, hunger, health, climate, and racial inequality crises – $2 million small business fund to provide financial relief to San Francisco small businesses, and $3 million to support organizations addressing hunger. In 2021, Salesforce empowered the global community by donating $1 million to American Forests and One Tree Planted in the fight against climate change.
• Party: What’s all fun without a party? That’s why there’s Dreamfest. Typically, Dreamforce is a week-long celebration with parties and happy hours all over town. But it doesn’t get more fun than Dreamfest. Past performers have included Metallica, U2, Bruno Mars, and Alicia Keys. In 2022, Red Hot Chili Peppers rocked the stage. At Dreamforce 2023, the headlining band was Foo Fighters. What’s more – all the money raised from Dreamfest supports UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals.
• ROI: Past attendees have seen significant increases of over 20% in ROI on sales productivity, customer retention, marketing lead volume, win rate, and deal sizes. Are you trying to convince your company to let you attend lots of sessions during Dreamforce 2024? Then you’d better start working on a letter to convince your employer. And you don’t have to scratch, Salesforce has prepared a draft email to help you!

Dos & Don’ts at Dreamforce

The typical 4 days at Dreamforce can get seriously hectic without proper planning, especially with the excitement around. Do not drain yourself in the first few days. Here are some useful tips on planning your journey to Dreamforce 2024 as an attendee.

Packing Tips

What to pack? Here’s a comprehensive list. Do not miss any of these:

• Smartphone: Pack your phone with useful apps like Salesforce events (your go-to guide for Dreamforce), Twitter (most of the SF crowd is on Twitter/X), Maps (Google Maps or similar), Taxi (Uber, Lyft, or similar), Payments (Google pay, Apple Pay), Docs (GDrive, Quip or similar). Download Dreamforce Jetpack when it is available. Oh, leave lots of space for photos and videos to save your amazing Dreamforce 2024 memories.
• Multi-port USB charger: To charge multiple devices at a time. Carry additional cables and laptop chargers. Make sure they are all portable.
• Business Cards: A lot of them. Let everyone know who you are.
• Walking Shoes: There would be a lot of walking as Dreamforce sessions are spread over multiple venues. Wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Business casual attire: The most common question is what to wear to Dreamforce? The dress code has always been business casual. Look your best. Don’t go too formal or too casual.
• Warm Jacket: Remember DF24 is during late September!
• Umbrella: It is San Francisco.
• Backpack: Salesforce generally gives a small backpack during badge collection on the first day. That is enough to go around. Leave some room for swags – after all, it is Dreamforce.
• A printed schedule: Your mobile can die anytime.
• Pen and a book: Your mobile can die 2nd time.
• Carry light grab&go snacks and water to keep you hydrated. Salesforce provides free lunch served at different locations around the campus.
• Oh and bring lots of enthusiasm!

Travel Tips

• If you’re staying out of the city, refer to the BART subway to travel to-and-from Moscone.
• Attend some of the late-night parties, especially the ones hosted by Partners. Those are great opportunities to network.
• If you want to tour around the city of San Francisco, plan it over the weekends (before or after) and reserve your Dreamforce days just for Dreamforce.
• There are bike tours to the Golden Gate Bridge, Pier39, and Fisherman’s Wharf – plan or join one with your Dreamforce mates.
• Pack an extra empty suitcase for all the swags that you’d carry back home.

Preparation Tips for a virtual experience of Dreamforce 2024

If you are planning to watch Dreamforce 2024 online and there is no need to pack for traveling to San Francisco, there are still several items that you could prepare for a successful online experience. Here’s a comprehensive list. Do not miss any of these:

• Right attitude: Treat even a virtual Dreamforce as you would a regular in-person event. Plan your time to attend the most interesting sessions, and engage during the sessions. Take advantage of conference hashtags (#Dreamforce, #DF24, #Dreamforce2024, etc.), Twitter, live chats, slack channels, or any other online tools to stay connected with other trailblazers.
• Limit distractions: Find a place where you would limit distractions so that you can get a full experience of attending this amazing event. You might also want to turn off notifications to stay focused.
• Test your Technology: Make sure you have all the technology prepared for a perfect virtual experience. Test your Internet speed and think of a backup option (e.g. using a personal hotspot to share the cellular data connection).
• Smartphone: Pack your phone with useful apps like Salesforce events (your go-to guide for Dreamforce), Twitter (the entire SF crowd is on Twitter), Notes (Notion, Google Drive, Quip or similar), and more. Download Dreamforce Jetpack when it is available.
• Chargers and necessary cables: It’s highly likely that with a fully virtual experience, you would need to stay connected over multiple devices at a time. Prepare the laptop and phone chargers as well as additional cables in advance. You don’t want to have your devices run out of battery in the middle of a great session.
• Business casual attire: The dress code has always been business casual. There is a chance that you might need to connect with new people online, so even if you are attending Dreamforce from the comfort of your home, look your best.
• A printed schedule: You might be doing lots of other tasks on your laptop/phone/tablet, so a printed schedule in front of you might come in handy.
• Pen and a notebook: Your devices might die during the session, so keep a good old pen and a notebook next to you if you need to write something down.
• Virtual background: If you have any virtual meetings during Dreamforce 2024, some video conferencing tools allow you to upload a nice virtual background. Why not use this opportunity to show off some of those nice Salesforce certifications? Here is how you can use Zoom to showcase them in front of the world.
• Keep some snacks and water next to you. You don’t want to miss any important announcements while running to the kitchen to grab something.
• Oh and bring lots of enthusiasm!

Session Bookings Tips

• Pace out your sessions on a day and over three days.
• Do not overbook yourself on the 1st day – we know you are all excited but most of the people drain out by the end of the 1st day.
• Dreamforce sessions are in different hotels in that region which requires a 5- to 10-minute walk between them. Check the distance between the venues before booking sessions.
• The queue to the Opening Keynote starts 90 minutes before the start time to get the best seat and it takes 30 minutes after the event to get out. Do not book any sessions during this period.
• The other most popular sessions get overbooked, you need to register and be there 15 to 20 minutes early. So, be cautious about booking back-to-back sessions.

Dreamforce 2024 Parties

Below you can find a list of parties during the Dreamforce 2023.

When the information is available about the Dreamforce 2024 parties, we will add it to this guide.

Monday, September 11th

• Customertimes Dreamforce Breakfast
  • Time and Location: 7am – 10am, Spaces (Next to Moscone)
• Argano Sunset Social
  • Time and Location: 5pm – 9pm, Rooftop at Via San Francisco South Beach
• Tableau and MuleSoft Welcome Reception
  • Time and Location: 5pm – 8pm, PABU Izakaya
• Customertimes Pre-Dreamforce Party
  • Time and Location: 5:30pm – 8:30pm, Coqueta
• Marketers Welcome Bash
  • Time and Location: 6pm – 9pm, The Pink Elephant Alibi
• ElementsGPT Kickoff Party
  • Time and Location: 6pm – 9pm, Elements Cloud Spaces, 95 3rd St
• Introhive Launch Party
  • Time and Location: 6pm – 9pm, Persona
• OSF Digital’s Global Welcome Party
  • Time and Location: 7pm – 10am, Hotel Zetta

Tuesday, September 12th

• Dreamforce After Party Bash
  • Time and Location: 4:30pm – 8:30pm, Northern Duck
• SlalomFest
  • Time and Location: 5pm – 10pm, Minna Gallery
• Dreamforce Queer Happy Hour
  • Time and Location: 5pm – 7pm, Blackbird, 2124 Market S
• Association Professionals Happy Hour
  • Time and Location: 5pm – 8pm, Dawn Club, 10 Annie Street
    
• The RevOps Dream Team Happy Hour
  • Time and Location: 5pm – 9pm, Soma Eats on 2nd
    
• Apps Associates’ Happy Hour
  • Time and Location: 5:30pm – 7:30pm, Local Kitchen & Wine Merchant
    
• AfterParty GPT
  • Time and Location: 7pm – 1am, Temple Night Club
    
• An Intergalactic Night Party
  • Time and Location: 7pm – 12am, 715 Harrison St
    
• Whatfix Dreamforce Cocktail Soirée
  • Time and Location: 7pm, Cityscape Lounge
    
• After Dark
  • Time and Location: 8pm, location released after registration

Wednesday, September 13th

• Dreamfest (with Foo Fighters as the headlining band)
  • Time and Location: Chase Center, Warriors Way, time to be confirmed
    
• Pickleball DF 2023
  • Time and Location: 9am – 12pm, The Crossing, 200 Folsom St
    
• Natterbox Pre-Dreamfest Happy Hour
  • Time and Location: 4pm – 6pm, Yerba Buena
    
• Computer Futures Dreamforce 2023 Happy Hour
  • Time and Location: 4pm – 7pm, Wine Down SF
    
• ThrillFest
  • Time and Location: 4pm – 8pm, Thriller Social Club
    
• Dreamfest Pump Up Party
  • Time and Location: 4:30pm – 6:30pm, Home for Marketers at The Pink Elephant Alibi
    
• OSF Digital’s Dreamfest Warm Up Cocktail Reception
  • Time and Location: 5pm – 7pm, Aphotic (fully booked)
    
• The Revenue Launch Pad for Dreamfest
  • Time and Location: 5pm – 8pm, Soma Eats on 2nd
    
• AdVic’s Free Bowling Event
  • Time and Location: 6:30pm – 9pm and another event on Thursday, September 14 from 4pm – 9pm, Yerba Buena Ice Skating & Bowling Center, 750 Folsom St
    
• The Engagement Party 2023
  • Time and Location: 8pm – 11:30pm, Monarch, 101 6th St

Thursday, September 14th

• 10th Anniversary Amplify @DF23 Breakfast
  • Time and Location: 7:30am – 10:30am, The Julia Morgan Ballroom
    
• Elements Wine Down
  • Time and Location: 4pm – 9pm, Elements Cloud Spaces, 95 3rd St
    
• Marketers Afterglow Party
  • Time and Location: 4pm – 6:30pm, Home for Marketers at The Pink Elephant Alibi

Networking Tips at Dreamforce

• Don’t try to attend every session. Most of them will be available on video after the event. Leave some time for networking (no matter how you are attending the event this year, in-person or virtually). Meeting a person is equally if not more valuable than attending a session.
• If there are specific people, customers, or partners that you want to talk to, contact them in advance and arrange a meeting. Now that Dreamforce 2024 also offers virtual experiences, it might be even easier to schedule that meeting you wanted.
• Have your elevator pitch ready. You never know who you could meet during Dreamforce.
• Do not forget to catch up with those whom you wanted and agreed to.

Credits: Salesforce

Plan Your Dreamforce Experience

Dreamforce is exciting and daunting at the same time. Without proper planning, it would be a messy ride. Plan well, register for the sessions and plan your meetings well ahead pacing them out properly, make new friends and have fun. Best of luck at the Dreamforce 2024!