Standard check-in times around the world are between 2-3pm, and while you may arrive at the hotel past the check-in time, there are chances that your room may not be ready. But if you let your hotel know your arrival time at the time of booking, then you will find your room ready for check-in when you get there.
The Luxury Travel Blog says that:
Tired after a long flight you are required to leave your bags with Concierge whilst waiting for your room to become available, when all you probably want is a power nap and a shower. The key here is providing your arrival time upon making your reservation. All hotels will employ a ‘Rooms Controller’ who, yes you guessed it, controls the rooms! It is their job to, ahead of time, look at the expected arrival times of all guests and pre-assign rooms to ensure as smooth a check-in experience as possible. If you don’t provide this information you will fall into a pool of people who are assumed to be arriving after 2pm and as such no special arrangements will be made for your room.
So make sure not to get stuck in the waiting line by letting the Room Controller plan their “making sure guests’ preferences are met.”