Full steam ahead for vacation rentals in 2016 – with tech provider LeisureLink opening the year with a $17 million round of funding.

The US-based company is being backed by Clearstone Ventures, Kinderhook Industries and Escalate Capital Partners.

LeisureLink claims it has so far secured more than $1 billion in bookings to various vacation rental partners since its inception in 2007.

Clearstone managing director Jim Armstrong says the investment is a “better way” to gain a foothold in the buegeoning alternative accommodation sector than Airbnb, HomeAway and other consumer-facing services.

Growth is good news for vacation rental companies, LeisureLink CEO Julian Castelli says, but the leg-work behind the scenes is “increasingly complex”.

LeisureLink offers distribution, revenue management and business information services to vacation rental owners.

It was acquired by VacationRoost in 2014 and later that year the combined companies were renamed LeisureLink.

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