Have you heard about Millennials?

Millennials now make up 35% of the workforce, a figure that is expected to double by 2020. No shocker there, but what is perhaps surprising is how quickly the baby boomer generation has started to behave like Millennials in how they interact with social and mobile technologies. According to a GlobalWebIndex study, the 55-64 age bracket on Twitter is the fastest growing demographic, with 79% growth since 2012. On Facebook and Google+, the fastest growing demographic is the 45-54 age bracket, growing at 46% and 56% respectively. The average age of today’s social gamer is 39 years old, a nod to how popular games like Candy Crush and Angry Birdsare with all age groups.

With these demographics, our industry is experiencing what you might call a “youth movement.” Certainly, it is being driven by the Millennials and Gen X-ers, but older generations are sitting shotgun, having become more comfortable with technology in their personal lives. Regardless of age, the next-generation business travelers have different expectations when it comes to the travel tools they use today.

I saw how even the airlines are revamping their offerings for the growing group of next-generation business travelers. For example, JetBlue, which has historically been class–agnostic, has introduced a business traveler “experience” fully equipped with touchscreen seat controls, charging stations, and free WiFi.

Travel is inherently mobile. This is nothing new. What is new, however, is a mobile-centric approach among technology providers who recognize that end users are more likely to completely bypass web or PC-based technology and opt for mobile access.

TripCase leaned even further into the corporate travel world this year with new technology offerings that allow travelers to manage personal and business travel in one place while keeping corporate programs informed of their employees’ business itineraries.

Stronger back-end data capabilities and corporate card integrations are helping travelers stay one step ahead by elevating their experience with automatic trip updates and notifications when their respective travel-related card benefits, such as airport lounge access and in-flight Wi-Fi, are available.

Just as applications such as Foursquare and Get Glue have made it fun for consumers to regularly check in to businesses and events, we are seeing new tools that are doing the same for business travel. Rather than relying solely on staid and, frankly, often ignored travel policies, travel managers can now encourage and reward smart employee travel behavior through applications and platforms that bring those policies to life.

Compliance generally equals savings for corporations, but the real benefit lies in, you guessed it, the data. With better insight into employees’ behavioral data, corporations can adjust travel programs to realize those savings and keep employees happy at the same time.

The concept of gamification remained top of mind as companies discussed how incentivizing travelers throughout the different stages of travel–from purchasing to on-trip–can bring benefits across the board. Expect these platforms, like Marriott’s app, Xplor, which combines its reward program with social-gaming mechanics to continue to build loyalty and engagement.

What to Expect in 2014

For starters, more integration. Upstart technology companies and travel service suppliers will continue to join forces to create frictionless and engaging travel experiences for travelers. The bar has been set for technology that delivers the best user experience without sacrificing the priorities of corporate travel programs, and it’s evident that this is the first year that the technology tools have been able to balance those objectives.

Take the sharing economy, for example. These peer-to-peer services have been picking up steam with consumers, but safety and security issues raise red flags for corporate travel programs, which could be a major roadblock to entering the business-travel world. On the other hand, platforms like SeatGuru are gaining traction, and I wouldn’t be surprised if companies like them have a presence at the convention next year. If they can find a way to securely integrate with corporate-booking platforms and travel policies, it may provide an attractive option for travelers and travel managers.

I expect other corporate travel leaders are as inspired as I am by the level of innovation and energy from this year’s show, and I wouldn’t be surprised if those discussions are already under way.

Why plan a business meeting when you can organize a brilliant gathering? Marriottbuilds on its “Travel Brilliantly” campaign with a new ad seeking to redefine business travel. The campaign targets millennial travelers by comparing Marriott’s creative get-togethers to meet-the-teacher nights.

According to Marriott, this is a space where millennials can “let their minds come together, see which ideas float to the top, hatch grand plans, find common ground, and make magic.”