IMHO, what has brought Westin down a bit in the past decade or so is that Starwood took the concept of consistency too far at the new build or remodeled North American properties. I can be at the Westin in Chicago (Magnificent Mile), San Francisco (Market Street), DC (Georgetown, fka Grand), and the rooms will look virtually identical-- same furniture, carpeting, art, etc. It's basically a more upscale version of what I can expect from a Courtyard, but whereas in select service properties 100% consistency is considered a plus (to avoid anxiety of not knowing what you are going to get), I think for an "upper upscale" property it just comes across as cheap.
Agreed - though once in awhile I have a first visit to a nicely differentiated Westin - the Phoenix downtown one (IMO the single nicest Westin around), the St. Louis one (really cool rehabbed brick buildings), Dallas Galleria (nothing fancy outside, but just a much nicer room style), etc.