Years ago we set up a simple system that has been invaluable to me when I am traveling (or setting up my travel schedule).
What a travel reservations contact might look like in your Sage ACT! database.
I create records in ACT for each travel vendor that I might use (e.g. Company name = Southwest Airlines, Marriott Hotel, Avis Car Rental, etc.).
For the Contact name, I use the main word from the company name for the first name and set the last name to “Reservations”. (e.g. Southwest Reservations). This allows me to look up Last Name = “reservations” and get my entire travel vendor list. While I could use the ID/Status for this, the ID/Status does not always transfer to Cell phones, and thus not available for quick lookups while I am on the road.
Of course, I enter the reservations phone number for each vendor in the Phone field.
If I have one, I also include the e-mail address that the vendor uses for their confirmation e-mails. It makes it easy to attach the confirmation straight from my Inbox for later reference.
If the vendor has an online reservations web site page or an account login, I include that full URL in the web link to make it easy for me to go straight to my login page.
If you are in a single-user database, you could use the Title field for your customer account number (Title fields always sync to your phone or other devices). If you are in a multi-user database, you may want to review my post on using Secondary Contacts to maintain confidential information, like your account number or login and password information.
So, when it is time to arrange my travel plans, I Lookup, Last Name, “reservations”, OK. I select the vendors I want to use and schedule my flight, hotel, and rental car on the contact records of the associated vendor. It makes it easy to see previous travel plans for reference.
I also always include the confirmation number in the Regarding (along with other reservation info) so that I can quickly use my phone to access those details if I need them while traveling. If a flight is cancelled, by searching on the word “reservations,” I also have quick access to phone numbers for alternate airlines and for notification of other vendors that I will be arriving later than planned.
When I get to the car rental site and they want to know my Fast Break Number, I just look it up in my phone in the Title field. Everything at my fingertips.
If I am not familiar with the area, I also include a street address for the local hotel or rental return site in the Regarding, so that if I need to use my GPS, the location is close at hand.
This seems such a simple thing, but has really made my travel arrangements very easy over the years. That’s what I love about ACT!. Simple to use… helps me keep my life under control.
This is the 10th edition that I have written detailing everything you need to know about how to use the latest version of ACT! to boost your productivity and help you get the most our of your new Sage ACT! 2012 software purchase. 
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Great Tip. But I usually associate with a client. This looks even faster.
Bill
Bill,
No reason you couldn’t associate with both. I like that idea. When you schedule with the Travel vendor, while still in the Activity dialog, click the Contacts button and add the client. Best of both worlds.
Susan
I use ID to sort our the different vendors ie., Travel, Restuarants, Hotels, etc.
Linda, I use ID/Status as well, but ID/Status does not come over to my Android phone, so I developed the alternate methods to make my searches on my phone easier. And using the Last Name “reservations” gives me the lookup I need for traveling. However, it really only works well for travel types of contacts where a specific contact is usually not associated with the record.
Restaurants is a good one though. I don’t use “reservations” for those contacts… just the ID/Status.
Susan
This is simply a great idea, I will be implementing your recommendation.