Southern Indiana Business Report
INDIANAPOLIS – The owners of a Dubois County restaurant that has become a destination were awarded the Will Koch Indiana Tourism Leadership Award.
The award was presented last week by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) during a ceremony at the Indiana Landmarks Center.
The Hanselman family are owners of Hanselmans Incorporated, which includes Schnitzelbank Restaurant & Catering, Hampton Inn and Klubhaus61.
Betty and Larry Hanselman began their journey with the simple idea to take over a tavern and dance hall in 1960 and laid the foundation for a tremendously impactful tourism hub in Jasper. Co-owned by Betty and Larry’s children, Hanselmans Incorporated now features the No. 1 Hampton Inn in Indiana and a full-service event center in Klubhaus61, with the Schnitzelbank Restaurant & Catering as the centerpiece. The Hanselmans credit the Koch family for sparking tourism in the area and creating an environment that allowed them to build their business and contribute to Indiana’s tourism industry to the extent that they do today.
The Will Koch Indiana Tourism Leadership Award is presented annually and is the highest tourism honor given by the state. The award is named for the late Will Koch, long-time owner and president of Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari.
Visit Indiana and the Koch family established the honor to pay tribute to Will Koch’s many meaningful contributions to tourism, business and society, recognize outstanding accomplishments in economic and community development through tourism and showcase the economic importance of Indiana’s tourism industry.
“Tourism is an integral part of Indiana’s economy,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Indiana is fortunate to have so many great opportunities to play and stay like the tourism hub that Hanselmans Incorporated has built in Jasper. Places and spaces are key parts of ‘quality of place,’ but it is our people that truly make Indiana a premiere destination.”
From the various attractions that bring people to Jasper and Dubois County to each and every person involved in their day-to-day operations, the Hanselman family is dedicated to making their community a place where visitors want to come and residents feel like family. The family regularly goes above and beyond, even hand delivering a catering order to the U.S. Capitol Building.
“That’s some of our Hoosier Hospitality too, but it’s the American thing to do too,” said Gail Hettinger, CFO of Hanselmans Incorporated. “You hope when you’re in need of something, that people will jump in to help you too.”
“The Hanselman family eats, sleeps, and celebrates tourism in all of their different endeavors and it is truly remarkable,” said Whitney Lubbers, executive director of Visit Dubois County.
This is the second year in a row that the award has been presented to a business from the Radius Indiana/Discover Southern Indiana area.
Patoka Lake Marina and Patoka Lake Winery owners Heather Setser and Steve Bartles were the 2023 recipients of the Will Koch Indiana Tourism Leadership Award.
Nominations for the Will Koch Indiana Tourism Leadership Award are submitted by community leaders and members of Indiana’s travel, tourism and hospitality industry. A panel reviews submissions.