Wentworth Travel celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025 with the independent Sydney boutique agency, a founding CT Partners travel buyers network member, reflecting on the changes and challenges in the travel industry and what’s next.
Opening as Casanna Travel (named for the owners’ daughters, Casey and Anna) in Double Bay in 1985, Co-Founders Bev Cohen and Margaret Ann Mayo recognised the opportunity for a boutique travel agency in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
Things looked very different in 1985 with just two dial-up phones and a telex machine in a two-desk office in the Edgecliff Centre.
Fast-forward to 1993 and Cohen took full ownership of the business, rebranding as Wentworth Travel and adding her daughter, Anna McMurtrie aged 19 at the time, as the company’s co-director to fulfil a legal requirement.
“Mum had an incredible instinct for the travel business and built Wentworth Travel on the values of service, loyalty and relationships,” McMurtrie said.
“My first site inspection was the Royal Hawaiian, aged nine. I still proudly remember being asked to help out during school holidays. My job was to hold on to the telephone and wait for the airlines to answer. I also sorted all the brochures and helped with the banking.
“Even at a young age, I saw how much trust our clients placed in us. That philosophy of putting clients first has been at the heart of Wentworth Travel ever since.”
After a career in banking and finance, McMurtrie returned to the business in 2010, applying her commercial expertise to develop Wentworth Travel’s supplier partnerships and client services.
Now operating with a 17-strong team, including Fay Cohen with 50 years’ industry experience, and as a Virtuoso agency and CT Partners founding member, Wentworth Travel has maintained its independence while gaining access to supplier agreements, airline partnerships and support.
“The way we work has evolved beyond recognition, but what hasn’t changed is the need for genuine expertise and personal service,” McMurtrie said.
“Our clients value having a trusted adviser. Being part of CT Partners means we can deliver even greater value with access to exclusive supplier deals and airline agreements.”
What travellers want
CT Partners CEO Matt Masson said Wentworth Travel is a perfect example of how independent agencies can thrive with the right support.
“CT Partners exists to champion our members’ success. [Wentworth Travel] represents everything that makes independent travel businesses so strong: deep expertise, highly personalised service and a client-first approach. We’re proud to have them as part of CT Partners,” he said.
McMurtrie added: “The future of independent travel agencies is strong because clients want more than just an online booking — they want an advocate.”
“CT Partners gives us the commercial strength to compete while keeping our independence and focusing on what we do best: looking after our clients.”
Find out more at ctpartners.com.au
