TORONTO - Residential and institutional casegoods manufacturer Leda Furniture says it increased manufacturing staff by 54 percent since August.

A jump in furniture orders for the hospitality market is growing the Leda Furniture's business, says Marco Confalone, president.

“While we have seen a modest increase in demand for our residential and office contract line, we are experiencing a tremendous increase in the hospitality sector,” Confalone says.

The sudden surge in hospitality casegoods production has Leda scheduling hotel projects well into 2012, according to Confalone, as hotels are on cycle to renovate rooms.

Leda also works with J.I.S. Contract Furniture Inc., a Toronto-area sales and marketing specialist to the hospitality sector.  J.I.S. operates a 60,000 square foot plant in nearby Mississaugua, Ontario.

Clients prefer domestic sourcing of wood furnishings, permitting quick shipping and assuring quality, according to Confalone.

“The hotels we are approaching have either lost a domestic vendor and/or are not satisfied with the imported furniture they have tried,” says Confalone. The hospitality roster includes big chains like Marriott, Hilton, LaQuinta, Doubletree, and marquis addresses such as the W Hotel in Buckhead near Atlanta, and the Las Vegas's Hard Rock Hotel, as well as privately held boutique hotels in New Orleans and other locations.

Leda began manufacturing fine furniture in Toronto in 1967, manufacturing custom-made furniture and parts. In 1972, the Leda moved to an 18,000 square foot where it began producing occasional, dining room and bedroom furniture.

In 1981 it expanded to a 50,000 square foot facility. In 1993 as Leda began manufacturing wall units, home office furniture collections and a home theater it expanded to its current 175,000 square foot state-of-the-art factory. 

In 2006 LEDA introduced a fashion-forward office contract division, balancing its business between residential, hotel contract and office contract offerings.

LEDA supplies North American, and dealers in South America and Asia. Leda has also provided furnishings for some of the most prestigious hotels around the world including Berlin, Japan, Jakarta and the U.S.