Businessman Andy Ng walked into his duplex room on the third level of the newly opened D'Resort at Downtown East, and was impressed by what he saw.

The two-storey, 52 sq m space - complete with wooden floors, flat-screen TV and fluffed up pillows - overlooks the beach in Pasir Ris. "It's beautiful and cosy," said the 35-year-old father of two boys, aged five and seven.

Yesterday, Mr Ng and his family were the first guests at the new NTUC resort built on the site of the former Escape Theme Park.

The previous resort at Downtown East, Costa Sands Resort, closed in March this year.

Assistant NTUC secretary-general Zainal Sapari, who is also a labour MP, said: "Today's opening is a significant milestone in the history of the labour movement.

"With the changing profile of the workforce, we are getting more PMEs (professionals, managers and executives). Income levels are rising and people expect a better lifestyle."

Mr Lim Eng Lee, chief operating officer of NTUC Club, the leisure arm of the labour movement, said the club has moved away from a one-size-fits-all mentality.

"Previously, we had one type of room... For family suites, we connected two rooms with the same design," he said.

Now, the new 387-room resort offers a variety of options, from family chalets to executive suites.

Prices range between $150 and $378 per night for the public.

Booking can be done through the D'Resort website.

The resort is part of a $200 million facelift started in 2012 for the 14.7ha Downtown East and is expected to be completed by the second half of 2017. By then, more eateries will be added and the Wild Wild Wet water theme park will double in size from 2 ha to 4 ha.

Mr Ng said: "I'm really looking forward to spending the day with my family. We plan to go to Wild Wild Wet before karaoke."