W ill 2012 be the year when personal service makes a comeback? When cruise sellers once again meet people face-to-face and have real conversations? When you host people in your office or home for a cruise night? When you make it a point to actually sail on a ship you want to sell? When you handwrite a note and mail it—with a stamp—through the U.S. Postal Service?

Yes, technology is great, and we love our email, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and whatever, but your clients are hungering for a human connection and good old-fashioned personal service.

“There’s so much noise out there in the marketplace that consumers have a tough time getting through it all and understanding it. They wonder if what they’re reading is factual or not,” says Dwain Wall, senior vice president and general manager of the retail networks CruiseOne and Cruises Inc. “Consumers are looking for a trusted adviser, because a trusted relationship is important when buying a vacation. The incredible growth of the Internet is working to the advantage of professional travel agents who have the firsthand knowledge combined with a one-on-one relationship.”

Wall points out that time is our most important commodity today—not money—and people don’t want to waste it. Of course, they’re still looking for value, but when it comes down to it, they’re more willing to spend money when it means their week off won’t be wasted on the wrong cruise ship.

Indeed, Wall feels so strongly about the return of personal service that he’s urging his franchise owners and independent contractors to make more of an effort with clients. “They need to think outside of the box and do simple things, like send personal handwritten notes that thank [clients] for booking a trip,” he says. “Once in a while, pick up the phone and say ‘I saw something that might interest you, let me know if it does.’”