We're delighted to announce that some exciting new functions go live on the site today, which we hope will make a really positive difference to your iloho experience. We're launching a new messaging function, we've redesigned the homepage and first time users will enter iloho via a nifty landing page that explains all ways our members can use the site.

You can now use our swanky new messaging function to network with your contacts on the site, and with friends outside the community; forward on interesting stories, ask for travel advice or just whisper sweet nothings to each other. You can access your brand new mailbox from the "mail" icon at the top of every page.

You'll notice our redesigned sidebar, which has clever expandable "drawers". The drawers open to reveal what's hot across the different areas of the site, your site history, plus recommendations for great travel books from Amazon and the latest deals from travel experiences specialist, isango!.

We've also made the searchable world map a bigger feature of the homepage, which should make searching for destination-specific content easier.

You can now add images to the travel articles you share so they make a big visual impact. When you submit a travel story, we'll search its source for images and display those available. You can then choose one and it will be displayed next to the story's synopsis. If you're linking to your own website or blog you get to show off your writing and photography skills at the same time!

We really hope these changes will make using iloho quicker, easier and better. We'd love to hear what you think, so please get in touch with comments and questions. You can leave them here or email them to us at info@iloho.com. Happy travels!