Steigenberger properties in Berlin

The hotel facilities are good, but I'm quite dissatisfied with one thing. Our flight landed at 10:55 PM, so we expected to check in past midnight. Fearing the hotel wouldn't hold our rooms (I'd heard stories of German hotels not holding rooms past midnight), I specifically made an international call from Shanghai to the front desk. I explained the situation and asked them to hold our rooms. They confirmed they understood and said someone would be there to check us in after midnight. Still feeling uneasy, I contacted Ctrip customer service and asked them to follow up with the hotel. Ctrip later confirmed they had arranged a pre-check-in for us. I thought we had double assurance. However, when we arrived after midnight, the front desk told us they only had one room available, even though I had booked two rooms for two nights. They suggested we stay at a nearby hotel for the first night and then move here on the second day. I had already looked at that hotel, and the environment was significantly worse. Plus, as a family of three staying for two nights, I didn't want the hassle of checking out and checking back in the next day. I firmly refused. There were other Asian guests checking in after us, so it was impossible that there were no rooms at all. Eventually, they gave us a room at the very end of the hallway. German hotel service can be so unreliable! I'm angry.