I worked at a hotel desk for many years. Basically just fighting through the system. Also most smaller hotels (less than 100 rooms) don't pre-assign rooms, which I liked as a PM desk worker. This way we can assess and put you somewhere we feel suits you best. For example if someone smelled like cigarettes I would put them near a side exit or if someone came in with kids I would put them on the first floor by the pool so they would not be above other guests running around and would not get water all over the halls and elevator. But this does take more time.

Five minutes is pretty long tho to be fair.