If you never arrive and never cancel, the hotel treats it as a no-show: non-refundable bookings are forfeited in full, and flexible bookings are typically charged the no-show penalty in the rate policy — often the full stay once the deadline has passed. The hotel usually releases the room and cancels remaining nights the next morning, so if you are just arriving late, tell the hotel or contact support so the room is held.
No-show vs cancellation
Cancelling — even after the free-cancellation deadline — is almost always cheaper than silently not turning up. A late cancellation often costs one night; a no-show normally costs everything, because your booking is prepaid and the no-show penalty usually keeps the full amount. If your plans collapse, cancel from My Trips rather than doing nothing.
What the hotel does the next morning
After a no-show night, most hotels release the room and cancel the remaining nights of the reservation. You cannot simply turn up on day two and expect the room to be waiting — the rest of the stay is usually gone too.
Arriving late is not a no-show — if they know
Delayed flight, midnight landing, next-morning arrival? Your prepaid room is held for the first night as long as the hotel expects you. Add a note to the booking, call the hotel, or open a ticket at support with your new arrival time so the front desk never marks you as a no-show.
Your booking's exact no-show terms are in its cancellation policy in My Trips. More answers in hotels help.