Skip to main content

The Peninsula Hotel Hosts Paris’s Famous Ball

Le Bal des Débutantes in Paris is an annual ball for accomplished young women and men from around the world. This year the event was held at the Peninsula Hotel, with proceeds going to two different charities. Catch a glimpse of one of the year’s most exclusive events.

Released on 12/14/2016


[soft music]

Welcome to the Peninsula, monsieur.

We are getting ready for the Debutante Ball tonight,

so the hotel is very busy today.

[soft music]

[Woman] Hello, this is Mary at the front desk.

There is a gentleman from Conde Nast Traveler

who'd like to know if Tess Kemper

and Olympia Taittinger have arrived.

[Tess] I am from Los Angeles, California.

I go to school at Cornell University.

I'm learning about hotels

in honor of my grandfather, Kurt Kerkorian.

[Olympia] I'm part of the champagne family,

I hope you've heard of it, Champagne Taittinger.

I live in England,

but I'm one of the French debutantes this year.

[Tess] You have to be an accomplished girl to be here.

If you don't know about it, you think,

Oh she's just going to a ball, gonna be a princess,

but you have to really work for it.

[Olympia] I feel like a star on the red carpets.

[Tess] This is the only time where you smile

and look pretty, and it's okay.

[mellow music]

[Olympia] My dad keeps walking on my feet,

and my [mumbles] too.

[Tess] I'm not the best dancer, so [laughs].

He has to sort of lead.

[Olympia] I'm living the moment and it's just amazing.

[Tess] The ball has combined so many things.

It's charity, fashion, being in the spotlight.

It's so many things that I love.

[Olympia] Let's go check out the roof of the hotel,

I heard it's amazing. Yes, let's go.

I need some air.

[mellow music]