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not reflect the characteristics of each member.
Consortia are developing a family of brands,
allowing a more focused appeal to customers and
members. This trend is paralleled by the emergence
of smaller specialised consortia, for example
golf hotels, town house hotels and castles and
stately homes.
See also: cultural conservation
Further reading
Harrison, L. and Johnson, K. �1992) UK Hotel
Groups Directory 1992/3, London: Cassell. �Provides
a listing of all hotel consortia and
members.)
Roper, A. �1995) `The emergence of hotel consortia
as transorganisational forms', International Journal
of Contemporary Hospitality Management 7�1): 4±9.
�Discusses organisation, structure and strategy of
UK hotel consortia.)
ROGER J. CALLAN, UK
conspicuous consumption
The term `conspicuous consumption' was first used
by Veblen to indicate membership of a leisured
elite. Through the lavish, ostentatious, yet
ultimately wasteful enjoyment of luxury goods,
conspicuous consumption was seen as the basis for
establishing esteem in class stratified societies.
Whereas it is easy to criticise Veblen on the
grounds that class structure and status indicators
are both more complex than he maintained, and
that leisure opportunities are considered an
essential requirement for all in modern society,
the expression has nevertheless entered everyday
usage.
There are at least three ways in which tourism
might be regarded as an example of conspicuous
consumption. First, members of wealthy touristgenerating
nations can be viewed as conspicuous
consumers of the valuable resources of the developing
world. The exploitation of these countries on
the pleasure periphery has been interpreted
by some commentators as a form of neocolonialism,
although few tourists would analyse
their own behaviour in such a stark manner.
Second, individual holiday choices made
amongst complex status hierarchies of destinations
can also be understood as conspicuous consumption,
especially when considered in terms of egoenhancement
motivation and trip-dropping.
However, it can be demonstrated that tourism
motivation is not just materialistic, but reflects a
wide range of other psychological and cultural
factors. Furthermore, postmodern tourism is said
to break down traditional boundaries and replace
them with a universe in which image, illusion and
irony predominate �see also postmodernism).
Third, other potential indicators of prestige
include souvenirs, gifts, photographs, postcards
and suntan, all of which can point to the relative
affluence of the holidaymaker, and, in that sense,
constitute symbols of conspicuous consumption.
However, this association is perhaps too simple,
since there may be a multiplicity of possible
meanings attached to such activities. Thus the
complexities of tourist typologies, motivations,
destination choice and consumer behaviour, all
provide arguments against the use of general
explanations of tourist behaviour such as conspicuous
consumption �see typology, tourist).
Further reading
Littrell, M. �1990) `Symbolic significance of textile
crafts for tourists', Annals of Tourism Research 17:
228±45. �Describes how handicrafts purchased
by tourists have at least eight different meanings
attached to them.)
Urry, J. �1990) The Tourist Gaze:Leisure and Travel in
Contemporary Society, London: Sage. �Argues that
the romantic and the collective gazes constitute
separate motives, and that postmodern tourists
place increasing emphasis on pleasure and play.)
Veblen, T. �1970) The Theory of the Leisure Class,
London: Unwin Books. �Contains a critical
introduction by C. Wright Mills.)
consumerism
consumerism 105
DAVID WILSON, UK
Consumerism can be defined as a social movement
seeking to augment the rights and powers of buyers