Salesforce’s Dreamforce conference opens in San Francisco with 1,000 in-person attendees, 1st time since 2019
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) – Salesforce’s annual conference Dreamforce opened on Tuesday morning for the first time since 2019 on Tuesday morning. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event will be scaled back from the usual 170,000 participants.
“Dreamforce is known for being such a big event. There will be 1,000 people here this year and over 160,000 will attend online,” said Colin Fleming, Salesforce senior vice president of global brand marketing.
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Salesforce still put a lot of emphasis on presentations. Howard Street between 3rd and 4th Streets is closed and has been converted into an outdoor convention floor with a stage where big names like the rock band The Foo Fighters will perform.
The Foo Fighters will perform on this stage for Dreamforce in San Francisco tonight. The Salesforce Convention was canceled last year and will be smaller this year – with 1,000 participants instead of the usual 170,000. Vaccination and daily testing required. pic.twitter.com/6mjKsEiGCn
– Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) September 21, 2021
“We have Will Smith, Emmy Award winner Jason Sudeikis … Dreamforce Magic is back here in San Francisco,” said Fleming.
But it’s not quite the magic that businesses in the area need.
The owner of The Grove restaurant on Mission and 3rd Street says the 170,000 visitors last year really lifted his business.
“It was incredibly important to us and everyone around the block. They (Salesforce) bought the restaurants, parts of the museums. It was a big part of our annual budget, our viability. Those three days were equivalent.” for three weeks, “said Kenneth Zankel.
However, he went on to say that 1,000 people sound good by COVID standards.
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“If it weren’t for last year it would be really disappointing, but 1,000 is better than zero. And hopefully this is the beginning of further development, ”said the restaurant owner.
He said business picked up again on Monday when people arrived in San Francisco for Dreamforce.
“When you look at the people walking around. That didn’t happen down here, ”he said, looking down Mission Street.
In a gruesome twist, it won’t be open for happy hour or dinner at Dreamforce. It closes at 3 p.m. because it can’t find enough workers to fill the evenings, another lingering effect of COVID-19.
“We get it bit by bit, but it’s a fight. It’s the ultimate strange dichotomy, you have a demand and then you can’t meet it,” said Zankel.
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The number of people isn’t the only change at Dreamforce this year. Participants will also be presented with pandemic safety protocols.
“We will be doing multiple tests on site, vaccination of course, with tests every single day we attend the conference,” said Fleming.
Dreamforce runs Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
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