I've stayed in about a half-dozen JW's and a half-dozen Ritzes. I don't personally consider the JW's as fully in the "luxury" category in the way that Ritz and St. Regis are (and maybe Waldorf-Astoria...although the one in Phoenix leaves me a bit unclear). I look at JW as a slightly nicer Marriott. Upper-upscale, like a Conrad, (good) Renaissance, or (good) Le Meredien.

In fact, I like the style/ambiance of the better Renaissances a lot better than the JW's. Also generally like the food/drink options better. If Marriott intends for JW to be seen as a higher tier than Renaissance, they have some work to do on some of the JW's.