Academy of Strategic Management Journal Volume 18, Issue 1, 2019 1 1939-6104-18-1-318 INFLUENCE OF FACILITIES ON CUSTOMER PATRONAGE AMONG SELECTED HOTELS IN SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA Oladele Olajide Patrick, Federal University Oye-Ekiti Yakibi Ayodele Afolabi, Federal University Oye-Ekiti Akinruwa Temitope Emmanuel, Ekiti State University Ajayi Omobola Monsurat, Ekiti State University ABSTRACT The study investigated the influence of quality of facilities on customer patronage among selected hotels in south-west, Nigeria. The primary source of data collection was adopted while multistage sampling techniques such as stratified, heterogeneous purposive and proportionate sampling techniques were utilized. The study was carried out in Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Ogun, Oyo and Lagos States. A total number of 69 hotels cutting across all sizes were sampled. Questionnaire was used to collect data. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and inferential Statistics such as hierarchical multiple regression. Good access road, basic security facilities, constant water supply, constant electricity and convenient parking space were used as dimensions of the explanatory variables. Findings showed that quality of facilities is positive and significantly related to customer patronage of hotels. Consequently, in ranking, we concluded that customer patronage is a function of the good access road, constant electricity, constant water supply, basic security facilities and convenient parking space. Hence, the study recommended that investors should, as a matter of fact, ensure that hotels should be situated in strategically accessible locations to be complemented with other facilities such as constant electricity, constant water supply, basic security facilities and convenient parking space. Keywords: Access Road, Security Facilities, Water Supply, Electricity, Parking Space, Hotel, and Customer Patronage. INTRODUCTION According to Kumar & Malik (2013), hospitality is defined as reception and entertainment of guests, visitors or strangers with liberality and goodwill. Hotels have come up beyond what used to be in the years past in terms of customers. Hotels now arm themselves with modern equipment in order to be relevant and remain competitive in the industry. Just like any other commercial establishment, hotels have functional compartments ranging from customer service, human resources, finance, research and development and facilities which are the focus of this study among others. The competition for having a strategic location and adequate facilities that create delight to customers is now the priority in the minds of the hotel investors. Generally, the hotel business is challenging and thrilling and these pave ways for investors to become financially independent, bosses in their own right, create job opportunity and also increase self-esteem. Besides, it gives owners the opportunity to be creative in terms of meeting customers’ expectations. To record huge success in this aspect, efforts must be geared