A Conceptual Framework on Reconceptualizing Customer Share of Wallet (SOW): As a Perspective of Dynamic Process in the Hospitality Consumption Context

Abstract

The consumer decision journey is a complex and situation-dependent process. In highly competitive markets with diverse brands in the hospitality industry, it is important to understand how customers’ wallets are allocated to a particular brand among a set of competing brands. A review of the literature indicates that customers generally follow a previous purchasing experience and its evaluation (e.g., satisfaction, preference) but may change their former decisions at the purchasing moment through the dynamic process. This study builds upon the concept of brand categorization to understand complex choice behavior and the customer’s share of wallet. This study proposes a conceptual framework incorporating several recent theoretical developments in consumer research to better understand customers’ purchasing behavior in the hospitality industry. As such, it provides guidelines for designing a more effective marketing and communication strategy for hospitality entities.