LENOIR, NC - Bernhardt Furniture, one of the largest family owned and operated marketers of fine wood and upholstered furniture in the United States, has formed a new division that will supply stocking and custom furniture to the hospitality marketplace.

Bernhardt Hospitality will debut at the May 13-16, 2009 Hospitality Design Expo in Las Vegas, NV, with a unique assortment of products for hospitality guestrooms, suites and public spaces.

Steve Mulherin has been appointed national accounts manager of Bernhardt Hospitality and will lead the new division from the company’s headquarters here. He will report to Rountree Collett, executive vice president of residential casegoods and Alex Bernhardt, Jr., executive vice president of residential upholstery. Mulherin was most recently with Thomasville Contract Furniture where he served as manager of strategic accounts. Earlier, he worked in hotel development, construction, and management.

Product will be developed through the company’s North Carolina manufacturing facilities and its worldwide sourcing and logistics networks. Bernhardt Hospitality will be represented by a dedicated sales force, separate from those of Bernhardt Design and Bernhardt Residential, and will launch a unique web site to serve the hospitality trade.

“This division has been in the planning stages for quite some time,” Mulherin said, “and we are committed to being a major player in the hospitality industry for the long term.”

“Ours will be fashionable, top-quality products made by a fourth-generation, family owned and operated company that has been manufacturing furniture since 1889 – including contract office furniture,” he continued. “We think we have real advantages to offer in the hospitality marketplace.”

The Bernhardt family has been crafting fine furniture since 1889. Located in Western North Carolina, the company produces a broad line of quality upholstered and wood furniture for the residential, office and hospitality markets – all at unmatched value in the marketplace. With 12 facilities in Western North Carolina and five offices overseas, Bernhardt employs more than 1000 people in the U.S. and abroad. The company’s 75,000 sq. ft. showroom is located in High Point, NC.

Source: Bernhardt Furniture