The short answer: not through the government's own programs — GSA is explicit that its rates are for federal travelers only. The longer answer: some hotel chains choose to extend their government rate to contractors anyway, and it is purely each chain's call.
GSA's per-diem FAQ answers this directly: GSA sets per-diem rates "for federal travelers on official travel only," and GSA "cannot provide guidance on contractor compensation" — your reimbursement is a matter between you, your employer and the contract, via the contracting officer. FedRooms eligibility language likewise covers U.S. government and military personnel and does not mention contractors. On the military side, DoD's travel-authorization machinery is equally closed: a DD Form 1610 can't be issued for contractor travel — the contract governs.
So a contractor asking "am I entitled to the government rate?" has an official answer: no. There is no entitlement. Everything below is hotel-chain generosity, not policy.
A hotel's government rate is that chain's own commercial rate, and each chain writes its own eligibility fine print — some name contractors as eligible, some exclude them, most say nothing either way and leave it to the front desk. The honest general rules:
Our chain pages record what each chain's own published terms say about contractors — including where the chain says nothing, because "not published" is the fact that tells you to expect front-desk discretion.
Whatever the booking engine let you select, the hotel can ask for ID at check-in and re-price the stay at the walk-up rate if you don't qualify. For a contractor that risk is highest exactly where the rate matters most — sold-out government towns during conference season, where desks check hardest. If your eligibility rests on a rate description that doesn't mention contractors, price the downside before you rely on it.
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No. GSA describes FedRooms as available to U.S. government and military personnel, and its per-diem FAQ says GSA's rates are for federal travelers only. Contractor travel is governed by the contract, not GSA's lodging program.
Only if that chain's own rate terms allow it. Eligibility is each chain's commercial decision — some include contractors, some exclude them, many don't say. Check the rate's terms at booking and expect possible ID checks at the desk.
No. A contract that reimburses travel at FTR/JTR per-diem levels caps what your employer pays you back. It does not make you a federal traveler or entitle you to government rates at hotels.
Not by itself. Some DoD contractor personnel legitimately hold CACs, but whether a hotel accepts a contractor CAC for its government rate is the hotel's own policy — the CAC proves credentialing, not rate eligibility.
The hotel can require ID at check-in and re-book you at the prevailing rate. The safe play is a rate you're entitled to — your company's corporate rate, or a chain whose published terms include contractors.