The Hotel OWNS the sidewalk?!! That is truly novel.
I take it you've never owned a home in area with sidewalks...
The property owner does own the sidewalks and is forced to pay for them to be put in, and for their replacement when they get old and crack.
They are built in a public right of way. That means that people have the right to cross your property on that sidewalk. It's not public property, it's private property on which a right of way is given for a specific purpose to the public.
That purpose is not to hang out and harass the property owners and their guests. The hotel is within it's rights to ask the reporter to move along, and if they don't call the police and have them arrested for trespassing if they refuse to move along.
Can't say in all areas, but in SF, many , many sidewalks are owned by the developer and the building. You see funny little plaques in the sidewalk proclaiming it as private property and the right to restrict access. Can't say if that is a right the courts agree with but the signs are in a lot of sidewalks.
Not novel. BS.