In Memoriam: Kelly Roche

Former TSAE member Kelly Roche died on January 7, 2021 at age 65. Roche began his 32-year hospitality industry career in Irving as the director of catering at the Holiday Inn DFW Airport North. He worked at numerous hotels in the Dallas area before joining the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau/Visit Irving in 2005, where he worked for the remainder of his career. Selling both the destination and the Irving Convention Center, he originally handled the national association market until focusing full-time on the national corporate market and government accounts. He was named the Visit Irving Sales Manager of The Year multiple times, including last year. Kelly was loved by clients, suppliers and competitors.