Junie Sorsano is the owner of Trip Expert Business and Marketing Solutions. JONATHAN YBERA/EXPAT MEDIA

After building Trip Expert International into a trusted name for business setup and visa services, Dubai entrepreneur Junie Sorsano is now taking the next step with Trip Expert Business and Marketing Solutions, helping more Filipinos turn business dreams into reality. When Expat Media first featured Junie, he was already known as a familiar name among Filipinos in Dubai, the UAE’s first Filipino vlogger turned entrepreneur helping overseas workers navigate life abroad. Today, his story has grown bigger. What started as Trip Expert International, a business focused on company setup, travel services, and legal visa support, has now expanded into something far more ambitious: Trip Expert Business and Marketing Solutions, a sister company built to support entrepreneurs long after their businesses are launched. In this Expat Media exclusive follow-up interview, Junie shares how his company grew from a startup idea into a business with seven offices across the UAE, more than 50 staff members, and plans for four more branches soon. For him, growth is not about numbers alone. It is about creating more business owners, opening more opportunities for Filipinos, and proving that entrepreneurship in the UAE is no longer just a dream.

Building beyond business setup

Trip Expert International was created to help people legally establish themselves in the UAE, whether through business setup, family visas, or freelance permits. But Junie quickly realized that opening a company was only the beginning. Clients kept returning with the same question: what comes next? “Trip Expert International is more on business setup and visa for families or freelancers,” Junie says. “These business owners have a need. We have clients asking for support in accounting, health insurance, social media management, and other services to complete our business support. Trip Expert Business and Marketing Solutions fills that gap.” Instead of stopping at registration papers and permits, Junie wanted to create a complete support system for entrepreneurs, especially Filipinos trying to establish themselves in a competitive market. Since social media management was also part of his own freelance beginnings, the move felt natural. “We run ads, we create content,” he says. The result is a company that does not just help people start businesses, but helps them stay in business. Today, Trip Expert Business and Marketing Solutions operates alongside Trip Expert International with more than 10 offices across the UAE, including key branches in Deira and Business Bay. And Junie is not slowing down. “We plan to add more offices,” he says. The reason, he explains, is simple: demand. “The reason for the growth is I believe in the power of the team. The more sales staff you have, the more trained and knowledgeable people you have, you can produce more numbers.” That belief has helped him build a workforce of more than 50 staff members, all working toward the same mission of helping entrepreneurs get started. For Junie, manpower is not just operational. It is strategy. “With more than one million Filipinos in the UAE, I still feel my staff is not enough to assist all these Filipinos planning to open their businesses, start legal freelancing,” he says. His market remains largely Filipino, making up about 90 percent of the business, but expansion also means thinking bigger. “The 10 percent non-Filipino market, that is what we are trying to work out and target,” he says. “We have started to hire non-Filipino staffers so we can help more nationalities.” For Junie, scaling the company means making sure no entrepreneur feels like they have to figure everything out alone.

Helping create more business owners

What drives him most is not simply running a successful company, but helping others build one too. “Business owners who dream of starting their business here in the UAE, we are here to support you,” Junie says. “Business planning and marketing are very important. Those are big factors in opening a business these days.” His biggest realization as an entrepreneur is that many OFWs already have the dream, but fear often stops them before they begin. For him, hesitation is often more dangerous than failure. “You should not be afraid of taking risks. Fear is your biggest hindrance that will stop you from realizing your dreams and goals. You need to be ready to dive into it.” Money is another common concern, but Junie believes capital should not always be treated as the biggest obstacle. “If money is the problem, that’s just one problem,” he says. “Look at what else you can offer. What are your strengths that money can’t buy? Who are the people who can help you fund your business idea?” He also reminds aspiring entrepreneurs that not every business needs massive startup costs. “Consultancy, for example. All you need is an office, a laptop, and you can start. Compare that to opening a restaurant. That really needs big capital.” It is practical advice from someone who understands that entrepreneurship often begins with resourcefulness, not riches. As his business grows, Junie says his approach to leadership remains personal. He does not hire based on titles or diplomas alone. “I look for what they can bring to my business. What drives them to work?” he says. For him, skills can be taught. Hunger cannot. “I believe that product knowledge can be taught to anyone. But the drive to succeed and focus, that’s what I am looking for.” He applies the same standard when choosing business partners. That mindset is one reason he brought longtime Dubai personality Rico Cardoniga into the fold through their collaboration on Trip Expert Business and Marketing Solutions and events like Pinoy Pop Star Middle East. Their latest entertainment projects, including singing competitions and upcoming events for children and teens, are part of a wider plan to diversify the company while keeping the community at the center. For Junie, the most important part of growth is helping more people believe they can succeed. “People used to think it’s difficult to open your own business abroad, but that is no longer the case now, particularly here in the UAE.” That shift is exactly what he wants to be part of. Because every time someone opens a company, secures a legal freelance visa, or finally takes the first step toward independence, Junie sees more than a client. He sees someone rewriting their future. CAM/Expat Media This story also appears in the Expat Media Special Edition magazine. Grab your copy today at partner distributors across the UAE.
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