Originally Posted by zkzkz

It depends heavily on the airlines involved. Generally if both flights are on the same airline then they're more likely to accommodate you, if they're the same alliance then they're also likely to accommodate you. If you're in North America odds are much better than in Europe.

Just as an example, AA has a policy of treating separate tickets as if they're a connection as long as you're connecting to or from AA to any Oneworld carrier.

You might also check up on the the "Flat tire rule" policies of the airlines involved. In North America it's common for airlines to accomodate you if you arrive at the airport late for your flight (but you must present yourself at the airport, not just call and say you're going to miss the flight). That would cover most delay scenarios too.

However, note that accommodating you will just mean taking you on the next flight with available space. During peak periods that could mean waiting overnight or possibly longer. There are very few circumstances where the airline will pay for a hotel in North America.

Edit: rereading your post you seem to be implying they're the same airline and you did say they put you in a hotel previously which makes me think it might be a European airline. European airlines tend to not be very interested in hearing about separate tickets. If they're on the same airline you might still be ok (they were responsible for the delay after all) but I wouldn't count on it.