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 โ 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 โ even after the free-cancellation deadline โ 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.