Hospitality Management 23 (2004) 449–457 Consumer behavior research in hospitality and tourism journals Anna S. Mattila à School of Hospitality Management, Pennsylvania State University, 224 Mateer Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA Abstract In this review, I identify key trends and ‘‘camps’’ in consumer behavior research in the field of hospitality and tourism research based on a thorough analysis of articles published in 2003. I also highlight some challenges faced by our discipline in terms of theory development and methodological issues. r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Consumer behavior; Theory testing; Methodology; Post-modernism 1. Introduction Consumer behavior is an eclectic field involving dynamic interactions and exchanges. The American Marketing Association defines consumer behavior as ‘‘the dynamic interaction of affect, cognition, behavior and the environment by which human beings conduct the exchange aspect of their lives. The goal of this paper is to review key trends in consumer behavior in the hospitality and tourism industry. This review is based on systematic analyses of articles published in the leading hospitality and tourism journals in 2003, including Annals of Tourism Research, Cornell Hotel & Administration Quarterly, Journal of Foodservice Business Research, Journal of Hospitality & Leisure Marketing, Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, Journal ARTICLE IN PRESS www.elsevier.com/locate/ijhosman 0278-4319/$ - see front matter r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.ijhm.2004.10.001 à Tel.: +1 814 863 5757; fax: +1 814 863 4257. E-mail address: asm6@psu.edu (A.S. Mattila).