I wouldn't say that they are equal properties, but that they do essentially offer equal value (and the Westin frequently better value) based on typically lower rates. It also depends on the type of stay. The W is great for a weekend stay for a couple where you've booked a high ocean front and can enjoy the nice adult pool deck amenities, etc. For family vacations the Westin wins out with the bridge to the beach and more kid friendly pool.

For a business traveler (me), there are basics that the W constantly gets wrong. These may be different priorities for a family or a couple on vacation, but here is a list of consistent wrongs:

1. Room service takes 60-90 (and sometimes 90+) minutes during dinner rush. often this isn't because of the kitchen, but because they have a shortage of runners. This is a big deal when you get back to your room at 8pm, but can't eat dinner until 10pm. It happens every night, no exceptions, and can be easily mitigated, but isn't...

2. The valet allows you to call down for your car and it's supposed to be there 10 minutes later. Often that call goes into a vacuum, even when you dial 8624 (valet direct), and you end up waiting an additional 10 minutes for your car. Clearly the system is not very air tight and can be improved significantly. I've asked them to let guests park their cars (and still charge the same $32 fee), and they don't allow it.

3. Check-in during the early evening hours is very very slow. This is a philosophy of service they have, they take time, they chit chat, and the front desk staff is very nice. This is all great, unless you're the person waiting on line to check in for 15 minutes when there is only one person in front of you.

4. The folio email delivery is inconsistent. Every week when I leave (I don't have time to walk over fly bridge to checkout), I get the survey, but the I don't get my folio, the following week on check-in they send me the previous week and promise the problem is corrected (and it isn't).

5. This will sound like a first world problem: Every time I check in they used to put me in the two bedroom suite, and every week I ask to be moved to a smaller ocean front suite (the condos are not ocean front). If I'm lucky I end up in an ocean front room, seldom suite. After every profuse apology comes a recommendation that I put this request in my reservation, and when my assistant does that, nothing changes every week. Same person (me and staff), same check-in day and time every week, and same request, but always different outcomes. It can't be that hard to develop some profile system, especially when they seem to get a kick every week out of telling me that this is my 38th stay this year and that i've stayed there however many hundreds of nights. They have the system, but not the process, so I wouldn't count on special requests making their way in without some consistent follow-up.

It will be interesting to see how this property develops over the coming year as the $100M investment plays out...