In case of rate contract there is no TDS as per department circular 5/2002 if there is no committment to earmark a certain room or guarantee an accomodation on a regular basis. For agreement to make available room on regular basis there is TDS u/s 194I.
For casual occupany when you are reimbursing the individual employee or professional who himself pays the bill and collects from you, you do not have to deduct TDS. However, if the individual / professional is audited u/s 44AB he has to deduct TDS if payment towards room charges for the year exceeds Rs.120,000 (including the taxes and levies).
Therefore companies whose employees stay on casual basis do not have to deduct TDS when you reimburse. However a businessman or professional subject to audit who pays more than 120,000 a year even on casual basis has to deduct TDS @ 10% or if he bears it from his pocket then 12.5 % if the PAN number of hotel is available or 25% if PAN number is not given by the hotel. If he stays say at Taj group of hotels collectively at all their properties at various dates in a year, payment to each hotel in the group will be combined to determine the applicability. This is irrespective of whether stay is for business/profession or personal expense. If an audited individual is reimbursing his employee or professional who is not audited for any of the casual stays, then there is no applicability of TDS.
However, many individuals subject to 44AB audit misinterpret provisions and do not deduct TDS for their personal holidays even if it exceeds the limit.