Tales of The General: Daniel Sprange

Sipping Through the Showers: A GM’s Guide to Rainy Rooftops

Brisbane, we need to talk.

Specifically, we need to talk about the rain. The relentless, rooftop-pool-bar-ruining, cocktail-diluting rain. Because when you have a beautiful hotel with a rooftop pool bar in the Sunshine State, the deal is supposed to be very simple: sun out, drinks out. Not whatever this has been over the past month.

As the GM of Ovolo Brisbane with the lovely Above Rooftop Pool & Bar, I would just like to formally ask the weather to read the brief.

Now, don’t get me wrong. We love Brisbane. We love the energy and the fact that everyone owns at least one linen shirt. But lately it feels like the city has accidentally been relocated to the tropics without telling anyone.

And when you run Above Rooftop Pool & Bar, rain doesn’t just mean rain.

Rain means moving cushions.

Rain means moving them again.

Rain means confidently telling guests “it’ll clear up soon” while refreshing the radar every 45 seconds.

The team has entered what can only be described as Stage 5 Weather Delusion.

You know the one.

“Blue sky over there there.”

“That cloud looks like it’s breaking.”

“The Bureau said chance of a light shower, that’s nothin”

Meanwhile, the pool is sitting upstairs looking perfect, the skyline is doing its best moody thing, and the bar staff are polishing glasses with the quiet determination of people who refuse to let a little thing like weather ruin a good vibe.

Because here’s the thing – rooftop season is a mindset.

If the sun shows up, amazing. We’re outside, the pool’s open, the cocktails are cold and everyone suddenly remembers why they moved to Queensland.

If it doesn’t?

We pivot. We lean in. We keep the towels rolled, the bar stocked, and the playlist optimistic.

Because eventually (and I am choosing to believe this with the confidence of a man who has checked the radar 27 times this morning) the sun will come back out.

And when it does, Above Rooftop Pool & Bar will be ready.