Top 6 Dreamforce Travel Pro Tips
As a Salesforce Marketing Champion, I've learned that success isn't just about mastering automations or crafting the perfect customer journey – it's about preparation, strategy, and knowing when to pivot. These same principles also make for a champion conference attendee.
Dreamforce is a marathon that can either supercharge your career or leave you overwhelmed and exhausted. After years of navigating the event, I've distilled my favorite strategies below.
Whether you're a seasoned Trailblazer or new to the Salesforce ecosystem, these tips will help you maximize your Dreamforce experience without sacrificing your sanity – or your feet.
1. If You Fail to Plan, You Plan to Fail
Mental rehearsal is a superpower. Visualize yourself navigating San Francisco ahead of time and expect unexpected weather. Create a detailed packing checklist so you don't forget anything – it'll ease your mind. Use packing cubes to pack light and roll your t-shirts to prevent wrinkling. Download the official Events app and build your session schedule in advance.
2. Keep Your Feet and Legs Comfortable
Comfortable, broken-in shoes are non-negotiable. Dreamforce involves lots of walking across Moscone Center's sprawling campus, and those stylish new kicks will become instruments of torture by day two. Don't gamble on breaking in new shoes during the conference.
Beyond footwear, compression socks are helpful against the dual assault of conference marathons and long flights. They'll combat foot fatigue during those 12-hour conference days and improve blood flow when you're cramped in economy seating. Your bottom half will thank you.
3. Master the Art of JOMO
Don't attempt to attend every session – you'll burn out faster than a poorly optimized Apex trigger. Choose quality over quantity, leave buffer time for walking between sessions and spontaneous conversations. Remember that sometimes the hallway conversations are more valuable than the presentations. Master the joy of missing out. You can catch up on some sessions on Salesforce+.
4. Make Connecting on the Spot Effortless
Business cards are relics of the analog age – they get lost, forgotten, or buried in wallet graveyards. Instead, use LinkedIn's QR code scanner for instant, seamless connections that actually stick. After scanning, immediately add a personalized note i.e. "Met at the Agentforce keynote - loved your question about data governance". Consider buying small QR code stickers with your contact info before the event. People can scan them directly, and they're good convo starters because they're memorable, tech-forward, and on-brand for Dreamforce. Be sure to network as this is the biggest Salesforce event of the year.
5. Safety Doesn't Happen by Accident
Don't travel solo – bring colleagues or connect with other attendees. Start a group chat with your travel buddies for coordinating meals and sharing session notes. When exploring the city or grabbing meals outside Moscone, slip off your conference badge to blend in with locals instead of being pegged as a tourist.
6. Fuel Your Body, Mind, and Tech
Keep Your Body Running: Hydrate aggressively – you'll be doing more talking than usual. Pack electrolyte supplements like LMNT to stay sharp through long days. Research nearby restaurants in advance and eat healthy. A hangry Salesforce admin is nobody's favorite networking contact. When it comes to drinking, have fun, but don't sacrifice the entire next day for a few hours at night.
Keep Your Tech Powered: Bring an external battery pack as backup insurance. While modern phones have impressive battery life, and you can enable battery saver mode, conferences are battery killers between constant photos, note-taking, and LinkedIn connecting. Better safe than sorry.