A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 102,617
Technically, as long as you arrive before checkout time, you shouldn't be considered a no show.
As a practical matter, arriving late means that you're at some risk of being walked for the first night.
As soon as you know your updated arrival time, you should call the hotel and be sure to get the name of the person, ideally a front desk supervisor or manager, you talk with. Especially if the cause is a missed connection or bump, the hotel should be understanding, although of course it would be too late to cancel the first night without paying for it and, in some cases, doing so might cause the remaining nights to be repriced.