San Jose Hosted Inaugural WeAreDevelopers Convention
Local business operators leveraged the tech-focused event to bridge downtown lunch traffic gaps.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Remote Work
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San Jose hosted the inaugural North American WeAreDevelopers convention, drawing international technology interest to the city. Downtown businesses relied on the influx of attendees to bolster customer traffic that has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.
Why it matters
Operators in downtown San Jose face persistent revenue challenges as fewer workers commute in-person compared to historical norms. Major events provide essential, albeit cyclical, surges in foot traffic that help local businesses offset lost daily volume.
Visit San Jose projects a 10% increase in economic impact from conventions this year, supported by events like the WeAreDevelopers debut which drew crowds including individual groups of 25 attendees.
The players
Adolfo Gomez
A local restaurant owner who adjusted his business hours following pandemic-era shifts in commuter traffic.
Visit San Jose
The destination marketing organization responsible for tracking convention economic impact and hotel demand.
The details
Downtown operators are using targeted outreach to convention attendee groups to drive revenue during events, as lunch traffic remains suppressed post-pandemic. Some business owners, such as Adolfo Gomez, have adjusted operations by closing on Mondays to match reduced weekday demand. The city is attempting to stabilize the downtown core through broader housing development strategies to increase the local consumer base.
Timeline
September 2026 marked the debut of the North American WeAreDevelopers convention in San Jose.
Post-pandemic shifts caused a sustained decrease in downtown lunch traffic.
Hotel room bookings are projected to rise next year compared to current figures.
Market Landscape
The reliance on large-scale events follows the documented post-pandemic decline in downtown foot traffic within San Jose. Local operators are increasingly dependent on these cyclical influxes to stabilize revenue as the return-to-office rate remains below pre-2020 levels.
Operators in transit-heavy areas should evaluate whether their staffing and hour models align with current, lower-volume commuting patterns. Consider tracking convention schedules to synchronize marketing and inventory levels with peak tourism periods in your city.
The takeaway
Operators must proactively bridge the revenue gaps created by the permanent reduction in daily office commutes. Use the city's event calendar as a primary forecasting tool to determine when to scale up staffing and inventory to capture transient demand.
Further reading
For more on how shifts in work habits are affecting urban centers, see our latest coverage on Remote Work.
Live Poll
Do you believe your local economy should rely primarily on major events to drive business growth?
