Creating Travel Memories for a Lifetime!

Belmond Safari in the Okavango Delta!

Christopher Koch founded CK Global Travel www.ckglobaltravel.com in February 2015 born out of a vision to help his clients discover meaningful travel as one of the primary ways to improve and change their lives positively and forever – through experience, education and fun.

Full Disclosure...this isn’t my first career. How I ultimately landed into this wonderfully fantastic career is a personal story that's a tad too long to share over one page. Nevertheless, let me give you a quick peek into my background and how we’ve got here.

Way back in the 1980’s, as a student attending UCLA, I was blessed to have met a lovely woman, Denise, and four years later in 1989, I was doubly blessed to take her hand in marriage. My first career emphasized law and administration with a 14-year gig running courtrooms in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Dealing with civil litigation, criminal matters and family law disputes can be a nightmare to say the least. I’ve worked alongside with some of the finest judges and litigators in the world, and I've worked on cases involving matters related to the Rodney King riots, the Menendez Brothers, and OJ after he lost a round in family law court...when Nicole was still alive. Needless to say, I had to find a better career to make me happier.

Southern California was my home for almost 40 years, but soon it was becoming a place I wanted to escape from. Literally praying for a change to improve our lives, we decided to take a giant leap of faith, and in 2004, with our two children and Jack Russell Terrorist in tow, Denise and I traded the 405 Freeway, In-N-Out Burger and smog of Southern California for the literal and figurative greener pastures of North Carolina with its Outer Banks beaches, Durham Bulls baseball and vinegar based BBQ.

Our prayers answered, we ended up loving the swap! As I exited my law career, I dialed up more prayers and with patience and persistence, I was blessed to ultimately landing a position putting together incredible overseas group travel pilgrimage experiences. A career was thus born where I could now travel with my clients and experience and enhance the rich faith which continues to strengthen me every day.

While I consider pilgrimage travel my most meaningful work, I’ve branched out to diversify my travel practice to include luxury, adventure and cruise themes. It’s quite fulfilling to work in close partnership and collaborate with my clients to help plan, coordinate and accomplish their once in a lifetime travel dreams and goals.

As I built a successful travel business in the NC Triangle, in late 2015, Denise, still my beautiful bride of 35 years, was afforded an opportunity for the two of us to transfer across the pond so she could work at her employer’s global headquarters located in Central London. Opening that door has lead us to experiencing life in arguably the world’s finest city and has allowed me an opportunity to expand my close business and personal relationships with my European, Asian and African travel partners.

I personally want to ensure that for each and every travel client of ours, we’re truly creating memories for them that last a lifetime.

My overseas partner relationships have paid tremendous dividends for our clients who are treated as VIP’s and who are welcomed into our travel family.

One last area I'd like to share with you about me.  As you know, COVID-19 practically killed the global travel industry back in 2020. My company's revenues plunged 97% from Q2 2020 until Q2 2022.  I was faced with a stark reality, take what business skills I have acquired over the years and try to reinvent myself to where I would be able to continue my travel business when the time was right.

I have owned and leased properties here in the USA and overseas, and whenever I make a visit to a travel related property, I inspect and analyze it for my clients.  In 2021, I became a licensed real estate broker and also obtained a credential as a Certified International Property Specialist which allows me to facilitate overseas real estate transactions while allowing me to conduct my travel business simultaneously.  

So in addition to planning and booking luxury, adventure, cruise and faith-based travel, I also help facilitate travel for individuals looking to purchase overseas second homes, investment and retirement properties. 

Looks like we’re out of time here...though I'd like to hear about YOUR hopes and travel dreams.

We have since returned back to the USA, so next time you're in the Pinehurst, NC area, I would be happy to set up a time to meet for a 45-minute complimentary conversation (perhaps over a coffee or adult beverage) as we discuss your future travel plans. If you’re currently tied up for the moment as work has bogged you down, feel free to contact me by email. We’ll be happy to help you get to where you want to go.

Deo Gratias and safe travels wherever we may ultimately take you!