Le Louis XV – Alain Ducasse at the Hôtel de Paris has announced the appointment of Hélène Tessera as its new Head Sommelier, effective 1st December. The promotion sees Tessera become one of the few women to lead the wine programme at a Michelin three-star restaurant.
Originally from the Var region, Tessera set her sights on joining Le Louis XV early in her career. After training at Chantecler in Nice and Epicure in Paris — where she met Bernard Neveu, now Executive Head Sommelier for Alain Ducasse — she achieved her goal in 2017, joining the team as a junior sommelier.
She quickly rose through the ranks: promoted to sommelier in 2018, then assistant head sommelier in 2019. Today, she succeeds Maxime Pastor, who has taken on the role of Executive Head Sommelier for Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.
“I am very proud to take on the responsibility of Head Sommelier,” said Tessera. “Supported by my team, the heart of my mission is to create unforgettable moments for our guests.”
To support her in this new role, Allan Jumetz joins the team as Assistant Head Sommelier. His experience includes roles at Le Laurent, Four Seasons George V, Le Peninsula, and most recently, Les Ombres in Paris.
Monaco has moved to deepen economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia following a high-level business mission to Jeddah, led by the Monaco Economic Board (MEB) and the Principality’s Delegate for Attractiveness, Ludmilla Raconnat Le Goff.
The visit brought together representatives from 34 Monegasque companies spanning sectors such as yachting, finance, tech, real estate and law, in what officials describe as a significant step toward forging long-term partnerships in the Gulf region.
Speaking during the trip, Raconnat Le Goff said both countries were keen to pursue “ambitious, sustainable collaborations” in strategic sectors, adding that Monaco’s agility and expertise make it well-placed to respond to Saudi Arabia’s fast-developing market.
The mission included meetings with business leaders and institutions in Jeddah, with a memorandum of understanding signed between the Saudi and Monegasque chambers of commerce. Events were also held at the Jeddah Yacht Club and KAUST, one of the region’s most advanced research hubs.
A workshop on doing business in the Kingdom offered guidance on navigating Saudi regulations, featuring speakers from Informa, organisers of the Monaco Yacht Show.
The trip ended with a visit to the Jeddah Central Development Company, the body overseeing the city’s vast seafront transformation project.
The International School of Monaco (ISM) will convene top education leaders from across the globe for a two‑day conference titled Innovate • Share • Empower, scheduled for 9th to 10th January 2026 at its Monaco campus. The event promises to bring together educators from more than 100 international schools across 24 countries to explore the latest trends, strategies and innovations in teaching and learning. Organised by ISM’s Deputy Director Academic Abigail Furey and a dedicated committee of staff and teachers, the conference underlines ISM’s commitment to academic excellence, inclusivity and global‑minded education.
Innovate • Share • Empower is designed to deliver insightful, practical and forward-thinking content for teachers, school leaders and education professionals. The two‑day schedule features four keynote presentations covering crucial topics such as mental‑health and wellbeing, multilingual education, evidence‑informed teaching, and cutting‑edge learning approaches. Further sessions will cover areas as diverse as conceptual thinking, inclusive education, AI in the classroom, inquiry‑based learning and learning support — reflecting wide‑ranging shifts in modern pedagogy.
Beyond presentations, the conference will offer abundant networking opportunities, allowing participants to exchange ideas, forge new collaborations, and share best practices with peers from schools around the world.
Expert voices shaping the conversation
Speakers at the conference include acclaimed professionals such as Kimberley Wilson, a chartered psychologist and author known for her holistic approach to mental health; Dr Eowyn Crisfield, an expert in multilingual and immersive education; James Nottingham, creator of the influential ‘Learning Pit’ teaching model; and Kate Jones, an internationally recognised specialist in evidence‑based classroom strategies. Their combined experience promises a rich blend of theory, research and practical advice — a valuable resource at a time when education globally is evolving rapidly.
What began as a mother’s impulse to give back has become one of Monaco’s most anticipated and meaningful events of the year. The Bal de Noël, now celebrating its 20th anniversary, is more than a glittering gala — it is the Principality’s unofficial launch of the glamorous festive season, a magnet for Monaco’s social elite, and a driving force behind one of its most cherished charities: the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
The event is the creation of Sandrine Knoell, who has single-handedly shaped the Ball’s identity over the last two decades — from concept to cause, from table placement to auction lots. “I actually organised the first Bal de Noël just after the birth of my son, Allan,” Sandrine tells me in the lobby of the Hôtel de Paris. “They knew I organised events, and the doctor asked if I could help make the delivery rooms more cozy. And that’s when the idea of creating a Christmas Ball came to me.”
A ball with purpose from the very beginning
Sandrine’s roots in Strasbourg — home to one of Europe’s grandest Christmas markets — made the festive season feel sacred. “Christmas was magical: decorating the tree, singing with my mother while she played the piano… it was a big moment for our family.” So when she arrived in Monaco to study at 18, she was struck by the absence of that atmosphere. “Not much was happening here at Christmas time back then — there were not many decorations, no winter gala.”
While Monaco had the iconic Bal de la Rose in spring and the Red Cross Ball in summer, there was nothing anchoring the winter social scene. Sandrine spotted the gap — and filled it. “I thought it would be perfect to create a Christmas Ball in the centre of Monte-Carlo – a charity ball, because Christmas is about giving, generosity, and doing something meaningful. It was the perfect time to raise money for a cause.”
The board of the Bal de Noël, from left to right: Marquise Roberta Gilardi Sestito, Inna Maier, Sandrine Knoell, and Lady Monika del Campo Bacardi of Bayfield Hall.
That first Bal de Noël raised funds for the very maternity service that had sparked the idea, helping install ambient lighting and whimsical murals for newborns and their families.
The concept caught on. Over the years, the ball has raised money for numerous charities include Monaco’s paediatric and cardiology services – initiatives that bring children from developing countries to the Principality for life-saving surgeries. “As a young mother, I could really relate,” reflects Sandrine.
Building momentum — and the support of the Prince
From those early days, the ball attracted high-profile support. It was first held under the patronage of Princess Caroline, and then, from its second edition, under Prince Albert II. But it was in 2016 — ten years in — that the event took a defining turn: Prince Albert asked Sandrine to direct the fundraising toward the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, placing the ball under the Princess’s high patronage.
“I was absolutely delighted — to have the backing of the Princess, and to support her foundation,” Sandrine says. Princess Charlene has since become a regular presence at the event. “She really enjoys the gala,” Sandrine notes. “As secretary general of the foundation, her brother Gareth often attends as well.”
This association with the Princess has become so synonymous that many now call it “Princess Charlene’s Christmas Ball”. Sandrine is flattered. “It means the ball is seen at a very high level, well organised, and associated with the Princess and her foundation. I am very proud of that.”
The Bal de Noël is hosted in the stunning Salle Empire of the Iconic Hôtel de Paris
A Monaco tradition with a modern twist
Today, the Bal de Noël has evolved into an unmissable moment in Monaco’s winter social diary — a night of elegance, entertainment and meaningful giving. The setting is classically Monte-Carlo: the gilded halls of the Salle Empire at the iconic Hôtel de Paris, overlooking the giant Christmas tree and remarkable decorations that now adorn Casino Square. Guests dress to theme, as each edition brings a new creative concept: from The Nutcracker to Moulin Rouge, and this year, a towering 20th-anniversary cake.
“Of course, the first Christmas event is the lighting of the Place du Casino, but the Bal de Noël is the first big gala. I love that, because even though it started from a place of generosity and love, it has become a very special event — a part of Monaco’s season,” says Sandrine.
Demand has grown so fast that tickets now sell out well in advance. That demand has also meant a growing pressure to deliver ever more spectacular experiences — and Sandrine leans into the challenge. She personally oversees the production, from hand-painted invitations by longtime collaborator Elisabeth Wessel to staging, décor, and performances. “I always say I’d love to be a guest at the Bal de Noël! But I’m too busy managing it all.”
Princess Charlene of Monaco with, from left to right, Sandrine Knoell, Sergio Momo – Founder of Xerjoff, and his wife Adriana Brusca
Raising serious funds — and expectations
With increased visibility has come greater fundraising power. In 2023, the ball raised a record €250,000 for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. Sandrine hopes to surpass that for the 20th edition. “The auction is a big challenge,” she says. “You need the right crowd, the right items, the right auctioneer.” In recent years, that formula has been led by Sotheby’s.
This year’s edition is also seeing new milestones. For the first time, Princess Charlene will write a personal message in the gala booklet, while SBM is also officially partnering the event for the first time.
Each year, the gala entertains guests with a different theme
A legacy with lasting impact
Sandrine has gone on to found other well-known Monaco events, including the Women of Monaco Lunch and the Women of Monaco Club — but the Bal de Noël remains closest to her heart. “I think of the ball like my baby — and now it’s 20 years old. One day, this baby will walk on its own, maybe without me. I hope it continues like the Bal de la Rose or the Red Cross Ball — events that last for 100 years.”
For Sandrine, the most rewarding part is seeing the joy the event brings — not just to the guests, but to the lives changed by the funds it raises.
In a Principality known for its refined soirées and philanthropic legacy, the Bal de Noël has earned its place among the greats. It is, above all, a celebration of Monaco’s most enduring values: elegance, generosity, and community – all centred around the magic of a Monte-Carlo Christmas.
