---
title: "AC Hotels by Marriott vs Element by Westin: which hotel brand is better?"
description: "On the numbers: Element by Westin. AC Hotels by Marriott vs Element by Westin, compared across 288 and 129 hotels: guest and Google ratings, hotel age…"
url: https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels-vs-element/
language: en
source: StayVersus (https://stayversus.com)
retrieved: 2026-11-10
---

# AC Hotels by Marriott vs Element by Westin

Averages across 288 AC Hotels by Marriott and 129 Element by Westin hotels, and a head-to-head in the 41 cities where both brands have a hotel.

Marriott International

## [AC Hotels by Marriott](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels/)

- **Average guest rating:** 8.7 ·

- **Hotels tracked:** 288

Marriott International

## [Element by Westin](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/element/)

- **Average guest rating:** 8.8 ·

- **Hotels tracked:** 129

The short answer

## On the numbers: Element by Westin

Element by Westin leads on 4 of 7 measures. The gap in average guest rating is small (0.14), so the hotel you pick matters more than the brand.

## Every measured fact

Averages over each brand's hotels. A dot marks the better figure.

 

|  | AC Hotels by Marriott | Element by Westin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Guest ratings |
| Average guest rating | 8.70 | 8.84  (+0.14) |
| Rated 8 or more | 90% | 92% |
| Rated below 7 | 2% | 0% |
| Average Google rating | 4.21/5 | 4.32/5  (+0.11) |
| Guest reviews behind the average | 43,734 | 5,558 |
| Same city, head to head (cities where both are rated: 20) |
| Cities where it is rated higher | 9 | 9 |
| The hotels |
| Hotels tracked | 288 | 129 |
| Countries | 40 | 12 |
| Typical opening year | 2017 | 2021 |
| Built or renovated in the last 10 years | 73% | 98% |
| Usual check-in | 15:00 | 15:00 |
| Usual check-out | 12:00 | 12:00 |

## Both brands, same city

The best-rated hotel of each brand in cities where both have one. Open a match-up for the full hotel comparison.

-   ### [Dallas (TX)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/dallas-tx/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel Dallas by the Galleria](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-dallas-by-the-galleria-dallas-tx/) 8.8 ·  Brand average here: 7.9
    
    [Element Dallas Love Field](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-dallas-love-field-dallas-tx/) 9.5 ·  Brand average here: 8.7
    
-   ### [Phoenix (AZ)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/phoenix-az/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel Phoenix Downtown](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-phoenix-downtown-phoenix-az/) 9.2 ·  Brand average here: 9.3
    
    [Element by Marriott Chandler Fashion Center](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-chandler-fashion-center-phoenix-az/) 10.0 ·  Brand average here: 9.8
    
-   ### [Atlanta (GA)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/atlanta-ga/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel Atlanta Airport Gateway](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-atlanta-airport-gateway-atlanta-ga/) 9.1 ·  Brand average here: 9.4
    
    [Element by Marriott Atlanta Midtown](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-atlanta-midtown-atlanta-ga/) 9.4 ·  Brand average here: 9.4
    
-   ### [San Jose (CA)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/san-jose-ca/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel San Jose Santa Clara](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-san-jose-santa-clara-san-jose-ca/) 9.5 ·  Brand average here: 9.1
    
    [Element by Marriott Santa Clara](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-santa-clara-san-jose-ca/) 8.9 ·  Brand average here: 8.9
    
-   ### [Miami (FL)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/miami-fl/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel Miami Dadeland](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-miami-dadeland-miami-fl/) 9.4 ·  Brand average here: 8.2
    
    [Element by Marriott Miami Doral](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-miami-doral-miami-fl/) 8.7 ·  Brand average here: 8.6
    
-   ### [Kuala Lumpur](https://stayversus.com/en/malaysia/kuala-lumpur/) Malaysia
    
    [AC Hotel Puchong](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-puchong-kuala-lumpur/) 9.1 ·  Brand average here: 8.9
    
    [Element by Marriott Kuala Lumpur](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-kuala-lumpur-kuala-lumpur/) 9.1 ·  Brand average here: 9.1
    
-   ### [Orlando (FL)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/orlando-fl/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel Orlando Lake Buena Vista](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-orlando-lake-buena-vista-orlando-fl/) 9.5 ·  Brand average here: 8.8
    
    [Element by Marriott Orlando Universal Blvd.](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-orlando-universal-blvd-orlando-fl/) 9.3 ·  Brand average here: 8.9
    
-   ### [Denver (CO)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/denver-co/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel Denver Downtown](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-denver-downtown-denver-co/) 9.1 ·  Brand average here: 9.1
    
    [Element by Marriott Denver Downtown East](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-denver-downtown-east-denver-co/) 8.9 ·  Brand average here: 8.9
    
-   ### [Fort Lauderdale (FL)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/fort-lauderdale-fl/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel Fort Lauderdale Beach](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-fort-lauderdale-beach-fort-lauderdale-fl/) 9.6 ·  Brand average here: 9.1
    
    [Element by Marriott Fort Lauderdale Downtown](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-fort-lauderdale-downtown-fort-lauderdale-fl/) 8.5 ·  Brand average here: 8.5
    
-   ### [St. Louis (MO)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/st-louis-mo/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel St. Louis Central West End](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-st-louis-central-west-end-st-louis-mo/) 9.2 ·  Brand average here: 9.2
    
    [Element by Marriott St. Louis Midtown](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-st-louis-midtown-st-louis-mo/) 9.3 ·  Brand average here: 9.3
    
-   ### [New York (NY)](https://stayversus.com/en/united-states/new-york-ny/) United States
    
    [AC Hotel New York Times Square](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-new-york-times-square-new-york-ny/) 9.0 ·  Brand average here: 8.9
    
    [Element by Marriott New York Times Square West](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-by-marriott-new-york-times-square-west-new-york-ny/) 8.0 ·  Brand average here: 8.0
    
-   ### [Suzhou](https://stayversus.com/en/china/suzhou/) China
    
    [AC Hotel Suzhou China](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/ac-hotel-suzhou-china-suzhou/) 8.9 ·  Brand average here: 9.2
    
    [Element Suzhou Science and Technology Town](https://stayversus.com/en/hotel/element-suzhou-science-and-technology-town-suzhou/) 8.9 ·  Brand average here: 8.9
    

## AC Hotels by Marriott or Element by Westin: common questions

### Is AC Hotels by Marriott or Element by Westin better?

On average, Element by Westin hotels score 8.84/10 from guests and AC Hotels by Marriott hotels 8.70/10. Element by Westin leads on 4 of the 7 measures we compare. The gap in average guest rating is small (0.14), so the hotel you pick matters more than the brand.

### When both are in the same city, which is rated higher?

In the 20 cities where both have rated hotels, AC Hotels by Marriott has the higher average in 9 and Element by Westin in 9.

### Which brand has newer hotels?

The typical Element by Westin hotel opened in 2021, the typical AC Hotels by Marriott hotel in 2017.

### Which brand has more hotels?

StayVersus tracks 288 AC Hotels by Marriott hotels in 40 countries and 129 Element by Westin hotels in 12 countries.

### Do AC Hotels by Marriott and Element by Westin belong to the same company?

Yes, both belong to Marriott International.

## More brand match-ups

-   [AC Hotels by Marriott vs Courtyard by Marriott](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels-vs-courtyard/)
-   [AC Hotels by Marriott vs Hilton Garden Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels-vs-hilton-garden-inn/)
-   [AC Hotels by Marriott vs Residence Inn by Marriott](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels-vs-residence-inn/)
-   [AC Hotels by Marriott vs Holiday Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels-vs-holiday-inn/)
-   [AC Hotels by Marriott vs DoubleTree by Hilton](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels-vs-doubletree/)
-   [AC Hotels by Marriott vs Hilton Hotels & Resorts](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels-vs-hilton/)
-   [AC Hotels by Marriott vs Marriott Hotels](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels-vs-marriott/)
-   [Element by Westin vs Holiday Inn Express](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/element-vs-holiday-inn-express/)
-   [Element by Westin vs Hampton Inn](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/element-vs-hampton-inn/)
-   [Courtyard by Marriott vs Element by Westin](https://stayversus.com/en/brands/courtyard-vs-element/)

Updated 6 Oct 2026. Averages over the hotels StayVersus tracks: guest ratings from Agoda (hotels with 5+ reviews), Google ratings from public Google Maps listings (hotels with 20+ reviews). A hotel counts for a brand only when its name confirms it. [How we score](https://stayversus.com/en/about/)

---
Source: https://stayversus.com/en/brands/ac-hotels-vs-element/. Facts are compiled by StayVersus from partner data (Agoda), Overture Maps, OpenStreetMap, OurAirports, public Google Maps listings and hotels' own websites. Scores use one formula for every hotel. Methodology: https://stayversus.com/en/about/
