What began four years ago as the Mirror Hospitality Expo in Bratislava has long since ceased to be merely a domestic bar exhibition. Now comes the next major step. From 2027, the event will be known as the Central Europe Hospitality Expo (CEHE) and, with it, the ambition to become a key venue where the Central European hospitality scene meets the world. The first edition of this new era will take place on 3 and 4 May 2027 at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, while Bratislava will be transformed into one big ‘Cocktail City’ from 2 to 5 May.
The renaming of the Mirror Hospitality Expo to the Central Europe Hospitality Expo is not merely a cosmetic change. It is the logical outcome of the event’s development, which over the past four years has gradually transcended the boundaries of Bratislava and the very concept of a traditional bar trade fair. Previous editions have already demonstrated that the strength of the project lies primarily in its ability to bring international figures to the Slovak capital, connect them with the local scene, and create a space where professionals from the bar, gastronomy, and wider hospitality sectors can meet. The third edition in 2025, for example, brought representatives from 32 bars across 26 cities and a total of 74 international guests to Bratislava.
It is precisely this international ambition that is now being given a new framework. CEHE aims to be a platform for the entire Central European region and, at the same time, a bridge between the local scene and the global bar world. The main expo will remain in the tried-and-tested setting of the historic Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, which has been associated with the project since its inception; however, the programme will increasingly spill out onto the streets of Bratislava. Cocktail City will once again offer a series of guest shifts and pop-ups at partner venues across the city.
New structure, same people at the helm
An important part of the change is the ownership and organisational structure. Founders Stanislav Harciník, Peter Marcina and Adrián Chrzan, together with long-standing partner Carlton Property, are becoming full co-owners of the project. Carlton Property is behind both the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel and the Mirror Bar, and its continued involvement thus confirms the long-term connection between the entire platform and the place where it was founded four years ago.
For the founding team, this is also an important affirmation of continuity. While CEHE is entering a new phase, neither its original vision nor the people who have built it from the outset are disappearing. On the contrary: Stanislav Harciník, Peter Marcina and Adrián Chrzan remain with the project as its key co-owners and leaders.
Danil Nevsky, a prominent figure on the international hospitality scene, is also joining the leadership team as Global Lead. Working alongside the founders, his task will be to strengthen CEHE’s international reach, develop relationships with the global scene, and help the platform make an even more significant mark on the global stage.
“The rebranding to Central Europe Hospitality Expo represents the natural evolution of what we began four years ago. True regional impact requires direct collaboration with the leaders who shape their local communities every day. By bringing in regional ambassadors and expanding the international team, CEHE will become the definitive bridge connecting Central European hospitality with the global bar scene,” says co-founder Stanislav Harciník.
It is precisely these regional connections that will be one of the main pillars of this new phase. CEHE is therefore establishing a specialised regional board comprising business owners and respected figures from each market. The Czech Republic will be represented by Pavel Sochor from Alma in Prague; Poland by Maciej Mazur and Alicja Baczyk-Mazur from TAG Krakow; Austria by Kostas Karvounis from Dunlin Bar; and Hungary by Máté Szabó from Elysian. Alia Akkam and Arina Nikolskaya will strengthen the regional reach beyond these markets.
Global names are heading to Bratislava once again
The fact that CEHE does not wish to be merely a regional networking project is already indicated by the first part of the programme for 2027 that has been published. The organisers are keeping the full list of participants under wraps for the time being, but the first batch of confirmed international bars offers an exceptionally diverse geographical spread. Heading to Bratislava are Ba Nomu from Germany, Danico from France, Himkok from Oslo, Hope & Sesame from China, Laowai from Canada, Moebius from Italy, London’s Scarfes Bar, Smoke & Bitters from Sri Lanka, and Tokyo Confidential from Japan.
This is precisely the sort of programme that has helped the Mirror Hospitality Expo build a reputation far beyond Slovakia’s borders in recent years. The 2026 edition alone brought more than 30 world-class bars to Bratislava and, alongside masterclasses, seminars and brand presentations, expanded the programme to include a gastronomic collaboration with Gault&Millau and the official launch of the Bartender’s Choice Awards for the Central and Eastern European region.
In 2027, the core DNA of the entire event will remain unchanged. CEHE continues to be built on four pillars – Connect, Educate, Taste and Discover. In other words: bringing industry professionals together, sharing know-how, tasting, and discovering new concepts, brands, techniques and personalities. It is precisely this combination of a professional programme and a lively city festival that is one of the reasons why the original expo has gradually evolved into an event capable of transforming the atmosphere of the whole of Bratislava for several days.
The main part of CEHE 2027 will take place on 3 and 4 May at the Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel, while the Cocktail City guest shifts will run from 2 to 5 May in partner bars and pop-ups across Bratislava. Visitors will therefore once again not be confined to a single exhibition venue. The city itself will become part of the programme – and this is precisely where one of the new brand’s greatest potential lies.
Mirror Hospitality Expo is therefore not coming to an end in the strict sense of the word. Rather, it is transcending its own boundaries. The name, which was closely associated with Bratislava’s Mirror Bar, is now giving way to a broader identity that aims to represent the entire region. The Central Europe Hospitality Expo aspires to make Bratislava a place where Central Europe regularly meets the global hospitality scene. And judging by the first names the organisers have already confirmed for 2027, this will certainly not be a small step aside, but another significant leap forward.
