Renée Areng, CDME

Renée Areng is the President & CEO of HMA Hospitality Consultants, where she partners with destination organizations nationwide to deliver 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.

Previously, Areng served as the inaugural President & CEO of Explore Brookhaven (formerly the Brookhaven Convention and Visitors Bureau), beginning in 2018. Under her leadership, Explore Brookhaven significantly elevated the city’s visibility and reputation as a thriving destination for leisure and business travelers.

Areng has also led three other destination marketing organizations, most recently Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast, where she drove measurable increases in visitation, revenue for non-gaming hotels, and digital engagement by unifying marketing and sales strategies. Prior to that, she served as Executive Vice President of Visit Baton Rouge and held senior leadership positions in both statewide and national political arenas.

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

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