Muncie Pair Wins Hoosier Hospitality Awards
Two Muncie tourism and hospitality professionals were honored at a ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Awards
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Josh Priest, general manager of Ron Lahody's Trust Your Butcher Steakhouse & Butcher's Lounge, and Lori Jessee, a visitor specialist at Destination: Muncie, received Hoosier Hospitality Awards at an Oct. 27 ceremony in Indianapolis. The awards recognize tourism industry partners who go above and beyond to showcase Indiana.
Why it matters
The honors spotlight the hospitality workers who shape how visitors experience Muncie and Delaware County. Winners are selected from nominations submitted by community members and visitors.
The Hoosier Hospitality Awards are selected by the Indiana Destination Development Corp. from nominations by community members and visitors. The ceremony was held Oct. 27 at the Indiana Statehouse, and the source does not list the full slate of honorees.
The players
Destination: Muncie
The local destination marketing organization serving Muncie and Delaware County, responsible for visitor services and event hosting.
Indiana Destination Development Corp.
The Indiana state tourism organization that selects the Hoosier Hospitality Award winners from community nominations.
The details
Priest was nominated after Destination: Muncie hosted the Indiana Society of Association Executives at the Horizon Convention Center in June, and he brought in additional staff and worked outside normal hours to keep the event running smoothly. Jessee was recognized for a visitor interaction in which she left a packet with a Destination: Muncie Experience Guide and local map on the Visitors Center's front door for after-hours pickup.
Timeline
June: Muncie hosts the Indiana Society of Association Executives at the Horizon Convention Center.
Oct. 27: Hoosier Hospitality Awards ceremony held at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis.
Culture Shift
The Hoosier Hospitality Awards recognize individual tourism partners through a nomination system tied to the Indiana Destination Development Corp. Muncie's honorees fit a statewide pattern in which local hosts are credited for showcasing the state to visitors.
Visitors to Muncie benefit when local hosts go beyond normal duties, from extended event support to practical packets that help newcomers find their way. Residents and businesses can nominate hospitality partners who make a difference.
The takeaway
Small acts of hospitality, such as a packet left for after-hours visitors or extra staff hours during a big event, can shape how people see a city. Recognizing those efforts helps keep that standard high.
Further reading
Explore more recognition stories in our Awards section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Star Press.
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