Renee Areng, CDME

Renée Areng is the inaugural President & CEO of Explore Brookhaven (formerly the Brookhaven Convention and Visitors Bureau), a role she has held since 2018. Under her leadership, Explore Brookhaven has grown significantly, elevating the city’s profile as a thriving destination for visitors.

Prior to this role, Areng led three other destination marketing organizations, most recently Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast. There, she achieved notable success in increasing visitation, boosting overall revenue for non-gaming hotels, and unifying marketing and sales messaging—resulting in substantial growth across all digital and social media metrics.

She has also worked as a strategic consultant with numerous destination organizations, offering expertise in strategic planning, accreditation processes, database optimization, and visitor growth strategies. Her client portfolio includes Visit South Walton, Louisiana’s Northshore, Tupelo CVB, Visit Mobile, Jeff Davis Chamber and CVB, Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou, and the Pat Harrison Waterway District.

Before joining the Mississippi Gulf Coast team, Areng served as Executive Vice President of Visit Baton Rouge and held leadership roles in both statewide and national political arenas.

A cum laude graduate of the University of Louisiana, Areng holds a BA in Public Administration and French. She earned her Certified Destination Marketing Executive (CDME) designation from Destinations International in 2007 and served on the CDME Review Committee in 2018. She has successfully led five organizations through six accreditations under Destinations International’s Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP).

Since 2022, Areng has served on the prestigious Destinations International Board of Trustees, continuing her commitment to advancing the tourism and hospitality industry.