Renée Areng is the inaugural President & CEO of Explore Brookhaven, leading since 2018. She previously led Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast and held leadership roles at multiple destination marketing organizations, driving visitation, revenue growth, and unified messaging.

As a consultant, Areng has advised destinations on strategic planning, accreditation, and database optimization. She has led five organizations through six accreditations with Destinations International’s DMAP program. A CDME since 2007, she also earned the Certified Diversity Travel Professional designation in 2021. Since 2022, Areng has served on the prestigious Destinations International Board of Trustees, continuing her commitment to advancing the tourism and hospitality industry.