Is it really illegal that for a discounted fee you get access to a hotel room during the next year? If that's the agreement you make? If I could pay $100 now to get my whole family into Disney land any weekday in 2024, I'd pay for that.

That's not the same as putting $100 on a hotel gift card which you can use anywhere anytime at the hotels many properties, maybe to cover a pet fee or cleaning fee or parking, or to reduce the cost of a room during a peak cost period like 4th of july.