So how are you going to rebook someone to a date that already has occupancy? If they don't open on the 1st is going to be a PR nightmare. So it does have some importance on when they open.
Of course it matters. If someone if flying out you can't just change the date on them. Not to mention people already having vacation time at work figured out. You can't just up and change the dates on a vacation and call it a nothing thing.