I just did this last week. I didn't have to go to the front desk, but eventually I did because they had my breakfast voucher tickets. But, on the day of Check-in it's not necessary if the hotel has digital key. Later in my stay I needed to use the laundry room and for some reason the digital key wouldn't work on that door. So, I had to go to the front desk to get a physical card. The new cards say something like "It's time to let me go". So, I'm assuming eventually almost every Hilton will be digital.