Golden hour could have been named after Nancy. Her hair is a long golden blonde, her eyes are blue, and her 170 cm figure is curvy, which makes her easy to spot at the far end of any lobby. She dresses for warmth and light: a sunflower yellow sundress in summer, a camel coat over a white knit when the leaves turn, gold jewellery that catches every lamp. In her early thirties, sunny and unpretentious, she arrives with the glow of someone who spent part of the afternoon outside and loved every minute.
Energy and ease sit together in her. Nancy swims most days and plans road trips the way other people plan dinner parties, with a playlist, a snack bag and no fixed route. Sushi is her comfort food and her celebration food, which she says keeps life simple. She speaks English cheerfully and naturally, and she is brilliant with guests who have been travelling for too long, because her good mood is contagious without ever being tiring.
Her W2 plan begins with water, naturally. The Porchester Centre on Queensway, an art deco landmark with indoor pools, is where she swims her lengths in the late afternoon, and she likes to meet guests nearby straight afterwards, hair still drying. From there it is a ten minute stroll to the Bayswater Road railings and into Kensington Gardens for sunset beside the Long Water while the gates are open, then sushi for dinner and back to your hotel before the evening turns cold.
Nancy meets guests along Queensway, Bayswater and the north side of the park; weekend bookings are best placed by Wednesday. Send the desk the day and your hotel, and she will plan around the sunset.