St. Thomas hotel question

Is it common for St. Thomas hotel's to charge your credit card the full amount for a room you book way in advance? Last year I booked a room with Windward Passage five month's in advance, and our card was charged the full amount almost immediately after I hung up. And just now we checked our on-line credit card account and Island Beachcomber has charged the card the full amount for a room I called to book for late May '17 for our last night near the airport. Again, almost immediately after I hung up. Is this common? Do all hotel's do this in the USVI ,or am I paying someone's salary in advance?

I've never paid in advance when booking directly with the hotel, but always do when it's through a re-seller.

I have not stayed at the Beachcomber tho.

I recently booked for 2 nights and was charged 50% upfront. I think I recall seeing at the time of booking that if you only book one night, you have to pay 100% upfront. So that may be why. We usually go to SXM and many places do charge a percentage upfront or by a certain date prior to arrival.